Referring to the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Iran and Senegal, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Dakar Mohammad Reza Dehshiri said that the development of Iran's cooperation with Africa is one of the government's priorities and that in this regard, a lot of efforts are being made.
He added that improving cooperation through signing a memorandum of cooperation concerning Bandar Abbas' capacities in the field of agriculture, fisheries, and shipbuilding, as well as significant transit capacity of Dakar is on the agenda.
Pointing to cooperation between Hormozgan Province, Iran, and Dakar, Senegal, in fields of trade and investment, he noted that the Iran-Senegal joint cooperation opportunities planned by the Dakar chamber of commerce in the fields of food, health, energy, mining, and religious tourism can also be considered.
He further noted that the existence of more than 2,400 kilometers of coastal border in Hormozgan Province makes the opportunity to access open waters very unique; also, in terms of security, it has a special impact on the Strait of Hormuz.
Referring to the existence of powerful military forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Dehshiri said that the region is under their full control, adding that the province has a very important and strategic position in the field of foreign trade and economic diplomacy.
Hormozgan Province has all four capabilities of land, rail, air, and maritime communication networks, and by using the province's transport capacity, West Africa's access to Central Asia is quite possible.
The existence of oil and energy resources, petrochemicals, marine tourism, shipbuilding, fishing, maritime transit, valuable agricultural products with the ability to export to various states of the world are only part of the Hormozgan's capacities and capabilities that double the importance of its trade development with West African.
This project aims to create a new position in development of trade ties between the countries in south of the Persian Gulf and African states, and development of cooperation between Bandar Abbas' and Dakar's chambers of commerce can be an effective solution for Iran's stronger presence in this area.