TEHRAN (ECOIDEAL)- Benin Ambassador to Tehran Naim Akibo underlined Iran's different potentials and capacities, saying that the African nations prefer to have trade ties with Iran than the western states.
"Most African states have very little information about Iran and the country's potentials and the needed data and information should be provided to them," Akibo said in the Central province of Markazi on Sunday.
"We have bitter experiences of certain trade exchanges with the West and therefore, Africa is more willing to have trade exchanges with Iran than establishing ties with the West," he added.
In relevant remarks in January, Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani underlined his country's willingness to further broaden relations with African states.
"We have always had close ties with Senegal, and establishment of relations with Africa is one of Iran's priorities," Larijani said at a meeting with his Senegalese counterpart Moustapha Niasse on the sidelines of the 13th Conference of the Parliamentary Union of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states (PUIC) in Tehran.
He underscored the friendly relations with Senegal, saying, "All sectors in Iran are interested in the expansion of relations, specially in economic fields, given the abundant capacities present."
"Iran is ready to negotiate with Senegal for investment in energy, technology and different industries like building dams, power plants, etc," Larijani said.
Source: Farsnews