A high-powered Iranian delegation led by Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif is on a five-day tour of four African and South American countries with the aim of promoting international economic relations as well as political ties.
The group left for Senegal on Sunday and will later head for Brazil, Uruguay and Namibia.
Delegates consist of businesspeople, entrepreneurs and representatives of economic, banking and industrial enterprises.
"We hope to be able to kick-start the export of non-oil goods and technical-engineering services to these countries," Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told reporters in Senegal on Monday.
The current mission is in line with the Foreign Ministry's plans to help diversify Iran's international relations and bring economy into greater focus.
Bahram Qasemi, Foreign Ministry's spokesman, told ISNA that drawing on the potential of economic along with political diplomacy is among the goals of the initiative.
"We are looking to expand our business ties with developing countries and an economic department has recently been established at the ministry for this purpose," he said.
The team is slated to attend joint economic conferences in the four countries.
"Private and state businesses will find an opportunity to meet their counterparts to foster bilateral collaboration in trade, industry and banking areas," the official said.
High Hopes
Iran is placing high hopes on the journey to Brazil as it is among the world's major economies.
During the visit to Brazil, a document on economic cooperation is to be endorsed by the head of Iran's Chamber of Commerce, Gholamhossein Shafei, and his Brazilian counterpart.
Iran is also planning to pen memoranda of understanding in judicial, academic and cultural fields with the Latin American country.
"An MoU will be signed between the Foreign Ministry's School of International Relations and a Brazilian diplomatic academy," Qasemi noted.
