S.African Envoy: Ground Paved For Expanding Tehran-Pretoria Ties

Qazvin, June 13, IRNA - South African Ambassador to Tehran Ebrahim Mohammad Sali said on Tuesday that grounds are prepared for expansion Iran-South Africa ties. He made the remarks in a meeting with Qazvin provincial officials, traders and industrialists. "South Africa is a gate to all other African countries and its markets are suitable for Iranian products," Sali said. Pointing to RSA membership in South African Development Council (SADC) embracing 900 million people, he said the region is also the best place for Iranian economic activists. The South African ambassador said Iran-RSA relations have had an upward trend since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two states in 1994. Therefore, he added, introducing the two countries' potentials to each other can further expand mutual ties. Sali said his country as a member of World Trade Organization, G20 and access to other neighboring countries, is top producer of gold, diamond, platinum, coal and mining machinery in the world, so it is suitable place for investment, trade and economic cooperation. Iran and RSA share common historical background of supporting liberation movements and facing external pressures, he said, adding that trade and banking system of RSA are under control of US and UK financial systems, and this makes promotion of the two countries ties complicated and hard. The diplomat invited Iranian traders and investors especially those from Qazvin province to do business and invest in South Africa without needing to register their companies there./end