Iran, Zimbabwe to enhance social, economic cooperation

Tehran, IRNA – Iranian and Zimbabwean delegations have called for the expansion and enhancement of economic and social collaborations between the two countries. Director General of International Affairs of the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor and Social Welfare Hamed Forouzan and Zimbabwean First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa held a meeting on Monday. The Iranian side expressed gratitude to the Zimbabwean authorities for their positive attitude to economic cooperation with the Islamic Republic, calling for the improvement of such collaborations. Forouzan referred to a meeting between the first lady and Iranian Minister of Cooperatives, Labor, and Social Welfare, saying that the two countries and the companies of both sides should enhance cooperation. According to the director general, the ministry is active in charity services and the State Welfare Organization of Iran provides people with specialized services in this regard. The meeting was held in the presence of managers of economic holdings to identify capacities for joint ventures in social and economic arenas, he noted. Narjes Bakhtiar Khalaj, Advisor to the Minister of Cooperation, Labor and Social Welfare on Women and Family Affairs, lauded Zimbabwean first lady's attention to women's affairs. She added that the ministry and its affiliated organizations follow up issues relating to women within the framework of a working group on the basis of religious and legal principles. There are not lack of laws concerning female citizens in Iran, she said, noting that the ministry is active in implementing women’s demands. Emphasizing the importance of food security, the advisor said that women and children are among the groups that are severely affected by the issue. For her part, Auxillia Mnangagwa expressed satisfaction with the cooperation between Iran and Zimbabwe, calling for expansion of collaborations to overcome sanctions. She underlined the need for using Iran's experiences, adding that Zimbabwe's doors are open to Iranian managers to identify opportunities for investment in the African country. In the meeting, directors of medical, mineral, industrial, petrochemical and steel holdings affiliated to the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor and Social Welfare introduced capacities and performances of their companies. The Zimbabwean first lady also invited directors of economic holdings of the ministry to visit the African state and become aware of the existing capacities of the country in order to expand joint cooperation. Auxillia Mnangagwa (born 25 March 1963) is a Zimbabwean politician and has served as the First Lady of Zimbabwe since November 2017. Follow us on Twitter @IrnaEnglish