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(HERALD) Iran, Zim move to implement bilateral economic agreements

Iran, Zim move to implement bilateral economic agreements
Herald Reporter

The Islamic Republic of Iran’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Mohammad Reza Bagheri jetted into Zimbabwe on Tuesday as the two countries move to implement agreements signed during President Mugabe’s visit to the Middle Eastern country in 2006.

Dr Bagheri, who is on a five-day official visit, yesterday paid a courtesy call on Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi at his Munhumutapa Offices ahead of scheduled meetings with President Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara, starting today.

The visiting minister is also expected to meet Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa, Higher and Tertiary Education Minister Stan Mudenge, Mines and Mining Development Minister Obert Mpofu and Health and Child Welfare Minister Henry Madzorera.

Dr Bagheri is also expected to hand over a consignment of drugs to Government at Natpharm today.

Speaking after meeting Dr Bagheri, Minister Mumbengegwi said the visit would give the two countries an opportunity to work on ways to further co-operation between the two countries.

"Our two countries share bilateral economic relations which date back a long time ago and we have developed co-operation politically at various fora such as the Non Aligned Movement, G77 and G15, among others.

"President Mugabe also visited Iran in 2006 and a number of agreements were signed between the two countries and this visit will afford Zimbabwe and Iran to find ways and means to further co-operation on the agreements," he said.

Some of the agreements signed include the establishment of tractor assembly plant in Zimbabwe as well as other agri-based projects.

"The administrative aspects of the tractor assembly project have already been implemented and we are waiting for kits to start arriving into the country so that the assembling, which would cover Zimbabwe and the region, will begin," Minister Mumbengegwi said.

He said the two countries were looking at working on projects between the Industrial Development Corporation and Iranian companies.

Zimbabwe and Iran have enjoyed excellent relations with the latter providing support to the former especially when the West moved to push for United Nations sanctions on Zimbabwe in the past two years.

Iran also gave Zimbabwe US$4 million to fund the establishment of the tractor assembly plant in Harare while a deal was signed between IDC, Iran Tractor Manufacturing Company and the Iran Foreign Investment Company.

Meanwhile, the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Zimbabwe has commended the promotion of a reading culture in the country.

In a statement issued after the 2009 Zimbabwe International Book Fair, the embassy’s cultural section said: "After touring several exhibitions and publisher’s stands at the book fair, His Excellency Mr Rasoul Momeni, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran, highly commended ZIBF for its sterling work in promoting a reading and writing culture in Zimbabwe. He encouraged the organisers to keep it up."

The Iranian Embassy’s cultural section has been a traditional supporter of ZIBF and at this year’s event it exhibited several religious, history and fiction books.

"During the book fair, the cultural section met with book publishers, film-makers and prominent authors and discussed how the Teheran International Book Fair is administered in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

"The meeting was very successful in that after the discussion, a committee comprising publishers and authors was formed."

Labels: IRAN, ZIMBABWE

posted by MrK @ 4:38 PM