A forum to promote trade and investment opportunities in Iran and South Africa is to be launched at the seventh session of the bilateral commission of the two countries in Pretoria next week.
The South Africa-Iran Business Forum would seek to promote growth in these areas in a more organised way, the Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Thursday.
The bilateral commission is to be co-chaired by Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and her Iranian counterpart Kamal Kharrazi on Monday and Tuesday, the statement read.
The commission was set up to improve co-operation in the economic, agricultural, mining, scientific, arts, sports, cultural and educational fields.
The seventh session would seek to increase access in Iran for South African goods and services, thereby reducing the trade imbalance, the department said.
It would also promote the mutual exchange of technology and the marketing of South African technical know-how.
The department said relations between the two countries have been strengthening in the economic and political spheres since the establishment of ties in 1994.
The launch of the business forum was a culmination of the growing relationship between the two countries’ private sectors, the statement read.
During his visit, Kharrazi was expected to meet President Thabo Mbeki and address the SA Institute of International Affairs. – Sapa