Iran-Africa relations have continued to expand further since the new millennium. The nature of the relations had broadened and was shifting from specific projects to economic, commercial and investment cooperation.

 

The illegitimate and illegal Economic sanctions imposed over the Republic of Iran gave it the chance to further consolidate its friendship with many African countries. Politically and diplomatically, Africa gave sympathy for Iran and its position that nuclear development for peaceful civilian purpose should be the rights and privileges of every nation. Economically, the Republic expanded its relations with Africa and involved in a number of projects. Iran established a lot of factories, built a number of clinics, schools, universities and took part in hundreds of infrastructural projects in African countries. It has also extended its support in the area of agriculture, water provision and energy.

 

Now, it is a new momentum for Iran-Africa cooperation. The economic and political situation is in favour of the Republic of Iran and Africa to boost their ties in the economic and political arena. Africa is in new development path and in search of new economic partners. It has been experiencing economic growth for the last successive years and has now become one of the dynamic and fastest growing Continents.

 

Different international and regional institutions including: The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the African Development Bank, IMF and the United Nations Development Program pointed out that Africa is one of the world's fastest-growing regions. They found that over the ten years to 2010, six of the world's ten fastest-growing economies were in sub-Saharan Africa. On IMF forecasts, Africa will grab most of the top ten places over the next five years.

 

Iran is one of the largest economies in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, with Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of USD 406.3 billion in 2014. It also has the second largest population of the region after Egypt, with an estimated 78.5 million people in 2014 with majority of them are highly educated. Iranian scientists and engineers are now able to revive the golden times of Persian science and innovation. Reliable reports from relevant international institutions have confirmed that Iran's research activity is growing 11 times greater than the rest of the world at a yearly rate. The Iranian government invested huge amount of money for education, research and development. United Nations has announced Iran as the 9th in line of the highest rate of literacy among all nations. The Republic has also successful in expanding higher education. Iran has 92 universities, 512 online university branches, and 56 research and technology institutes around the country. There are currently some 3.7 million university students in Iran. One million of them are medical students. 31 per cent are studying in engineering and construction programs, one of the highest rates in the world.

 

In 2011, majority of students (65 per cent) enrolled in Iranian Universities were women. Iran is cited as one of the top 10 countries worldwide that has closed the gender gap in education. Students from top Iranian universities have achieved high ranks in the international Science Olympics, wining prizes in the areas of physics, mathematics, chemistry and robotics.

 

Iran's immense investment on its human capital enables the country to establish a diverse and dynamic economy. Iran has been able to build one of the vibrant economies unlike other oil and gas producers that heavily depend on oil revenue. It has relatively huge industrial capacity and abundant capital. There is an interesting shift in the structure of the economy in recent years, away from services and toward manufacturing. Iran's economic growth is fuelled by heavy industries and manufacturing, aerospace, advanced weapons, textile, petrochemical, metallurgy, food industries, and in many engineering and scientific fields. The Iranian economy is now growing and has a solid base to sustain its momentum and diversify its structure. International Financial Institutions predict that Iran could see annual average growth of 4-5 per cent beginning in the 2016 fiscal year and the next consequent years, when the internationally brokered nuclear deal removes sanctions against the country's oil and financial sectors. High levels of investment, an increasingly active private sector, low poverty levels, and a lively public debate on the economy provide hope for long-term stability and development.

 

Thus, the economic growth of Africa and the Republic of Iran is complementary and supportive of each other. Iran and Africa are both developing regions facing common challenges of development and sharing broad common interests in a world that is undergoing and will continue to undergo and complex changes. Both parties know that in the world where space is shrinking than ever before, no country is afford to live alone and pursue its development path. Iran and Africa also believe that interconnectedness of countries should benefit all participants and their actions should be guided by the principle of win-win arrangement. Equitable and shared development and justice are the priority of Iran and Africa and both sides are at a crucial stage of development. Iran and Africa both have distinctive features. Iran has relatively well mature and applicative technology and equipment and relatively adequate capital, while Africa is blessed with a remarkable advantage of markets, labour, power and natural resources.

 

Thus, Africa and the Republic should seize this opportunity and foster their cooperation in the areas of petrochemical, oil and gas, agriculture, pharmaceutical, infrastructure, finance, banking, and tourism. Iran's experience in road-building, rail building, dam construction, the oil industry, and so forth could be usefully exploited by African nations. To sum up, vibrant Iran and emerging Africa can build a new model of economic partnership of the 21st Century and benefit their respective people.

Source : allafrica.com