TEHRAN – In a meeting in Tehran on Saturday, Vice President for Science, Technology, and Knowledge-based Economy, Rouhollah Dehqani-Firouzabadi conferred with the minister in charge of the Plan Senegal Emergent, Cheikh Kanté, on ways to boost technological ties.

The two countries will expand collaboration in the three fields of mini oil refineries, agriculture, and health, ISNA quoted Firouzabadi as saying.

“West African countries provide a good opportunity for Iran to enhance relations,” he added.

The Senegalese official, for his part, said: “I knew that Iran is on the right track and it has made considerable advances, but attending the meeting, I realized that the country has made great strides in science and technology.”

He went on to say that Senegal looks forward to cooperating with Iran in the fields of science and technology. “Africa needs such scientific collaborations.”

Kanté called food, energy, and technology the axes of cooperation between the two countries and reminded, “Senegal is fully ready to conclude contracts and memoranda of understanding with Iran to expand scientific and technological cooperation.

Iran targets East Africa for technology products

Iran sent a trade-technology delegation to East Africa from October 15-22 to expand exports in three countries.

“Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania are the three target countries,” IRNA quoted Firouzabadi as saying.

Health (medicines and medical equipment), agriculture and animal husbandry, machinery, food, and industries have been determined as the most suitable fields for export.

In July, Iranian knowledge-based companies concluded contracts for exporting medical equipment and medicine to Africa.

On July 13, President Ebrahim Raisi wrapped up his three-nation tour of Kenya, Uganda, and Zimbabwe, becoming the first Iranian president to engage in an African tour in more than a decade.

Amir-Hossein Mir-Abadi, an official with the Vice Presidency for Science and Technology, said the African market is an attractive opportunity for Iranian knowledge-based companies, IRNA reported.

Mir-Abadi said works are underway for exporting 50 types of medical equipment and 10 medicines to Africa.

He touched on the President's visit to the House of Innovation and Technology of Iran in Kenya, saying: “The capacities and capabilities of Iranian knowledge-based companies for exporting technological products were greatly appreciated.”

The process of registering more than 50 medical devices and two drugs for export to Kenya has been done, and the registration and process of exporting more than 10 other drugs to this country is in the implementation phase, he explained.

He listed agriculture, food, and livestock industries as among the fields that were highly regarded and needed by African countries.

Iran to transfer technology to Africa

In July, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, who accompanied President Ebrahim Raisi on his trip to Africa, spoke about Iran’s perspective on the continent and the potential for collaboration with African nations.

“Iran’s view on Africa is quite different from that of neo-colonialism or its older version,” Amir-Abdollahian told Press TV in Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe.

“We aim to empower Africa through technology transfer,” he said.

The foreign minister continued his remarks by elaborating on two key points of convergence between Iran and African countries. 

African people and their leaders are now quite sensitive to protecting their independence and this is among the commonalities between Iran and African nations, Amir-Abdollahian underlined. 

“Another issue of equal importance for Iran and Africa is the U.S. sanctions regime. With Africa’s assistance, we should prevent the U.S. and certain states that still have a colonial mindset from utilizing the deadly tool of sanctions against nations,” Iran’s top diplomat pointed out. 

MT/MG