In a recent meeting in Tehran, the President of the Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines, and Agriculture, Samad Hasanzadeh, emphasized Iran’s keen interest in expanding trade relations with Sierra Leone. Speaking to Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to Iran, Salamu Koroma, Hasanzadeh outlined Iran’s capabilities and the potential for mutual economic growth, particularly in the private sector.
Hasanzadeh highlighted Iran’s robust trade network, which includes 34 provincial chambers of commerce and 20 expert commissions dedicated to solving global economic issues with scientific analysis. He also noted that Iran maintains joint chambers of commerce with 49 countries and expressed a desire to add Sierra Leone to this growing list of trade partners.
“We need more details about Sierra Leone’s economic plans and programs, especially in the private sector,” Hasanzadeh said. “Your country is rich in valuable mineral resources such as gold, diamonds, zinc, and copper. Iran has the technical expertise and knowledge to support the exploration, extraction, and utilization of these resources.”
He added that Iran is interested in importing iron ore and wood from Sierra Leone while offering its modern technologies for oil refinery construction, medical equipment manufacturing, agricultural machinery, and infrastructure development. “We can meet each other’s needs and significantly increase trade volume,” Hasanzadeh said, calling for stronger partnerships between private sectors in both countries.
Hasanzadeh also congratulated Ambassador Koroma on his recent appointment and welcomed him to Iran.
In response, Ambassador Salamu Koroma expressed gratitude for the warm reception and welcomed the potential collaboration between the chambers of commerce of Iran and Sierra Leone. He provided an overview of Sierra Leone’s economic opportunities and challenges.
“Sierra Leone is a small country with over 8 million people, bordered by Guinea and Liberia. We are blessed with abundant mineral resources, yet our citizens have realized little benefit due to underutilization,” Ambassador Koroma explained.
He pointed out Sierra Leone’s fertile land and abundant rainfall, which could make it a hub for agricultural production. However, farming is largely non-mechanized, leading to heavy reliance on rice imports despite government efforts to prioritize agriculture.
Ambassador Koroma also highlighted the country’s energy crisis, noting that Sierra Leone struggles to meet even basic electricity needs, let alone power industrial activities. He emphasized the government’s interest in collaborating with Iran to address these issues, particularly in energy, education, and technology.
“Our institutions lack the equipment needed to keep up with global technological advancements,” Koroma said. “We also face significant infrastructure challenges, which make it difficult to transport products to markets. Partnering with Iran would allow us to address these challenges and learn from Iran’s expertise.”
The ambassador praised Iran’s support for Sierra Leone, including the provision of scholarships for Sierra Leonean students studying at Iranian universities, and expressed hope for further educational opportunities.
After hearing Ambassador Koroma’s remarks, Hasanzadeh reaffirmed Iran’s readiness to address Sierra Leone’s challenges through cooperation in agriculture, energy, health, and education. He also announced plans to increase the number of scholarships for Sierra Leonean students and revive trade fairs that had previously strengthened ties between the two nations.
The meeting concluded with both sides committing to develop a joint Action Plan for increasing trade volume and strengthening bilateral ties. Hasanzadeh expressed confidence that the partnership would be mutually beneficial, fostering economic growth and technological advancement for both countries.
As discussions progress, this promising relationship between Iran and Sierra Leone could pave the way for enhanced trade, innovation, and development in key sectors, offering new opportunities for both nations.
Elizabeth M.Campbell
Information Attaché
Sierra Leone
Embassy Iran
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