New shipping line will boost Africa trade

IRNA, Tehran, 04/12/2007

Regular shipping services between Iran and Africa will be launched on December 6, announced Iranian Deputy Commerce Minister for international affairs, Mehdi Ghazanfari.

In an interview with MNA, Ghazanfari stated that the scheme was made operational through joint investment by Iran Trade Development Organization and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL).

“According to the plan, vessels will ply between Bandar Abbas to the African ports of Mombasa (Kenya), Zanzibar (Tanzania) as well as Durban in South Africa," he said. He added that on the return trip, the vessels will ply between Alexandria (Egypt), Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco and Freetown (Sierra Leone).

Meanwhile, speaking at a seminar on Iran-Africa trade opportunities, First Vice President Parviz Davoudi said the country plans to develop trade in technical and engineering, dam building, power transmission, and telecommunication fields with Africa.

Putting Iran transactions with Africa (excluding oil exports to South Africa) at $600 million annually, the official stated that trade rose by 60 percent this year compared to the figures for last year.