Africa has been one of the parts of the world where Iranian Islamic Revolution’s message of anti-imperialism, independence and justice was welcomed by the oppressed regional nations. In other words, Africa has been an appropriate place to expand Iran's foreign relations and strengthen its soft influence over the past four decades. Still, the steps taken for presence in Africa have never been proportionate to the existing capacities for all-out expansion of relations with this continent, especially economically.
Meanwhile, President Seyyed Ibrahim Raisi, whose administration has put economic relations boost with the whole world top on its agenda, after visits to neighboring countries and Latin America now seeks to pursue this strategy in Africa.
To this end, the Iranian president on Wednesday started his three-day African tour at the invitation of Kenyan, Ugandan, and Zimbabwean counterparts to bolster political and economic ties and diversify export destinations. This is the first visit of an Iranian president to Africa after 11 years aimed at broadening Iranian presence in the $1 trillion African economy.
Iran's government spokesman Ali Bahadori Jahromi commented on the goals of the tour, saying: “The main purpose of this tour is to improve relations with friendly and aligned countries, develop the market of knowledge-based products, cooperate in the creation and development of joint technology and innovation centers, export technical, engineering, agricultural and medical services and generally diversify Iran's export destinations. Although the volume of Iran's trade with the African continent has jumped 100 percent compared to 2019, it is by no means sufficient and our economic relations should grow in proportion to the African continent's market.”
Official reception of the president, bilaterals with counterparts, holding high-level meetings, signing cooperation documents, and explaining the results of official negotiations in the press conferences are part of President Raisi’s programs in the visits to the three African nations.
Economic significance of host states
The three countries Iranian president is visiting are located in south and east of Africa and are economically and geopolitically important. Kenya is a middle-income country and plans to become an emerging industrialized country by 2030. The major industries of this country include agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining, manufacturing, energy, tourism and financial services. As of 2020, Kenya had the third largest economy in sub-Saharan Africa, after Nigeria and South Africa.
In addition to the country's long-term development plan in line with the vision 2030, which aims to transform Kenya into a competitive and prosperous country with a high-quality life, the government's economic model is bottom-up, prioritizing agriculture, health care, and housing sectors.
Also, Zimbabwe has different mineral reserves such as coal, gold, diamonds and iron ore, which have a significant contribution to the country's economy. One of the most famous diamond mining areas is the Marange diamond field located on the eastern edge of the country. It is believed that this area could have one of the richest diamond reserves in the world. In 2013, the field was estimated to produce approximately 16.9 million carats, thought to account for 13 percent of the diamonds produced in the world. Gold mining is also one of the important activities in Zimbabwe. Though a landlocked country, Zimbabwe has huge fish resources that are vital to its economy. Additionally, agricultural products form an important part of the national economy.
Uganda, though in terms of size is among the small African countries, has special economic status thanks to its massive natural and mineral resources. Uganda's reserves include copper, tungsten, cobalt, columbite-tantalite, gold, phosphate, iron ore and limestone. Gold is an important exporto of the country. Agriculture accounts for a large share of Uganda's export earnings and GDP, and is also the main source of income for the vast majority of the adult population. Major industries are based on the processing of agricultural products such as tea, tobacco, sugar, coffee, cotton, grains, dairy products and edible oils. Also, the production of cement, fertilizers, matches, metal products, paint, shoes, soap, steel, textiles and motor vehicles is an important part of the economy.
Africa's significance for Iran
Although in common perception Africa is poor and deprived, it is a rich continent in terms of natural resources that provides proper opportunity for the developing economies like Iran. Geopolitically speaking, its location between Asia and Europe and hosting four strategic waterways of Suez Canal, Strait of Gibraltar, Bab-el-Mandeb, and Cape of Good Hope give special importance to this continent.
The colonization of the continent and plunder of its resources by the great colonial powers in the past centuries is a sign of importance of Africa. Even now, Africa is one of the areas of encounter of Eastern and Western powers. Countries like China, Russia, and the US are focusing on Africa to upgrade their economic and political status globally, and Iran can also develop its relations with the region's countries and have its word in global competitions.
In recent decades, Iran has tried to provide the necessary conditions for its private sector to enter Africa, and although no practical action has been taken in this regard in the past years, the way to implement this strategy has been paved with the strategy of President Raisi’s administration. Iranian investors and owners of private sector industries now can operate in small, heavy, and infrastructural industries and even agriculture in Africa, and since the countries of the continent welcome foreign investors, there is no limit to private sector.
Due to absence of technology, Africa is a good market for the sale of Iran's domestic products, and by increasing the level of economic cooperation, Iran can earn a lot from interacting with Africa, and at a time of sanctions, this can make up for part of loss of oil revenues.
According to the statistics published by the Iranian Customs in 2022, about 2.4 million tons of non-oil goods with a value of $1.2 billion were exported from Iran to African countries, which is only 2.2 percent of the total value of Iran's exports. These figures show the share of trade with Africa is currently trivial in Iran's international business ties.
“Last year, more than 128.5 thousand tons of goods worth $73.78 million were the volume of Iran's trade with these three countries. 124.2 thousand tons of Iranian goods worth $54.67 million was Iran's export share and 4.351 tons goods worth 19.2 million were our imports from these three countries,” said Alireza Peymanpak, the deputy head of Iran-Africa Trade Club, on the trade with Kenya, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.
According to figures, by the end of the 21st century, one-third of the world's population will belong to Africa, and many African countries have positive economic growth, which will turn Africa into a large market for consumer goods, and this large market will be beneficial for Iran's growing economy, and by laying large-scale foundations, benefits can be gained from this market.
Since African states need extensive investment, Iranian companies can use their technical knowledge in developing their economic infrastructure. Experts suggest that Iran can take the initiative in Africa if it can make calculated investment and develop a regular plan and a detailed strategy for Africa.
Politically, African countries make up about a third of the UN members, and increasing convergence with this continent can be effective for Iran on international stage. Since the US always strives to pass anti-Iranian resolutions in the UN, Tehran can use the political weight of Africans to neutralize Washington and Western hostile diplomatic moves.
Culturally and religiously, more than 55 percent of the people of Africa are Muslims, and in other words, it can be said that Africa is the only continent most of whose population is Muslim, and from a cultural point of view, they have many intellectual affinities with Iran. The Islamic Republic has made a lot of efforts to promote culture and religion in Africa, and holding ceremonies in Fajr— which marks installation of the Islamic Republic and victory of the Islamic Revolution of 1979— and religious occasions has made African people more familiar with Iranian culture and customs. Due to its anti-colonial nature, the Islamic Republic has managed to make a place in the hearts of African nations, and if systemic programs are set up to develop cultural relations between Iranians and the people of Africa, it will add to Iran's cultural influence there.
Experts suggest that cultural activities in Africa should be accompanied with business work and manpower training, namely, scientific centers, universities, technical workshops, and vocational schools, where cultural and promotional work is also done, should be established.
Additionally, given the creeping and gentle influence of the Israeli regime in Muslim African countries in recent years, by broadening its influence in this continent, the Islamic Republic can set up a big roadblock ahead of the Israelis there and ward off their dangerous plots.
For its rich resources and economic capacities, Africa
should not be neglected in Iran's foreign policy. President Raisi’s
government is aware of this fact and is trying to reverse the
several-decade negligence of its predecessors and ratchet up its
relations with this powerful continent.
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