TEHRAN –The Kenyan ambassador to Iran has called for developing scientific ties with Iran, especially exchanging professors and students, to benefit from the experiences of Iranian researchers.

“Iran’s progress and self-sufficiency in biotechnology and genetic fields are astonishing,” Joshua Igweta Gatimo said while visiting the National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB) on Thursday.

In addition to exchanging professors and students, Kenya welcomes cooperation with Iran in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases,” Gatimo said in a meeting with Javad Mohammadi, the NIGEB director general, IRNA reported.

Mohammadi, for his part, said that in line with the Islamic Republic of Iran’s policy to boost international cooperation in the field of scientific diplomacy, the institute welcomes interaction and collaboration with all countries.

He proposed that the two countries launch joint projects in biotechnology and genetic engineering.

Iran, Africa boost ties

In July 2023, President Ebrahim Raisi started his tour of African countries by first visiting Kenya, where he held many high-level meetings. After Kenya, he headed to Uganda. The tour will also take Raisi to Zimbabwe. 

In Nairobi, Raisi held talks with his Kenyan counterpart William Ruto. After the meeting, they held a joint presser in which they talked about relations between Tehran and Nairobi.

“Iran-Kenya relations have a long history and we believe that the cooperation between the two countries, as well as the cooperation between Iran and all the African countries, can develop day by day," Raisi said, according to the official website of the Iranian presidency.

He described Africa as a continent of potential and stated, "Our view in the Islamic Republic of Iran on Africa is considering countries with talent, capacity, talented human forces, material and spiritual reserves, natural and mineral resources."

Raisi added, "Also, we consider our friend Kenya as a country full of diverse capacities, whose exchange with the numerous capacities of Iran can help improve the level of relations between the two countries."

Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, who accompanied President 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.

NIGEB

The National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology was established in 1989 under the supervision of the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology

NIGEB is a pivotal hub for advancing the field of biotechnology in Iran, notable for its focus on multidisciplinary collaboration and ethical progress. Impressively, they engage in both basic and applied research across various biotechnology sectors while considering the implications of technological commercialization and socio-economic impacts.

MT/MG