Addressing the Second Iran-Africa International Summit in Tehran, the Iranian capital, on Friday, President Raisi told participants from more than 30 African Union (AU) member states that the meeting is an indication that both sides They are determined to push their relationships even further.
He drew a contrast between the Iranian and Western approaches to Africa, saying: “The Westerners want Africa for themselves, but we want Africa for ourselves.”
The Iranian president highlighted the colonial past of the African continent when its wealth and resources were plundered.
President Raisi said that Iran is willing to share its technological achievements with Africa despite threats and sanctions from the West, but stressed that existing financial and money transfer problems must be eliminated to achieve the goals.
“We have some capabilities to export technical and engineering services, and there are capabilities in Africa. “If these capabilities are combined, a complementary economy will be formed,” he said.
He noted that Iran has more than 10,000 knowledge-based companies that have catapulted the country’s exports by more than two billion dollars, adding that their products can help Africa solve its problems in different spheres.
He mentioned agriculture, industry, medicine, healthcare and the construction of refineries and power plants as some of the areas that can help Iran forge stronger ties with Africa.
“Overseas cultivation is another important capability. Africa can supply raw materials to all economic operators and production centers at a reasonable price,” he explained.