The 8th Iran-Zimbabwe Joint Permanent Commission, co-chaired by Iran’s Minister of Cooperatives, Labor and Social Welfare Ali Rabiei and Zimbabwe’s Foreign Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, commenced on Monday in Harare.
Rabiei, accompanied by a 40-member Iranian delegation comprising government officials and businesspeople arrived in Harare on Sunday and was officially received by Mumbengegwi and Islamic Republic of Iran’s envoy to Zimbabwe Mohammad Amin Nejad, IRNA reported.
The meeting includes a two-day gathering of senior officials, followed by another day of ministerial meetings to review progress of various bilateral agreements between Harare and Tehran.
The two countries also view the commission meeting as an opportunity to strengthen bilateral economic ties and explore new areas for cooperation.
“The Joint Permanent Commission is yet another opportunity to explore new areas of cooperation,” Mumbengegwi said.
Rabiei for his part said in an interview after arriving at Harare, that his visit was aimed at strengthening bilateral economic ties, noting that the two countries have a long political, cultural and economic relations.
In addition to attending the Commission, Rabiei plans to meet with high-ranking government officials including Zimbabwe’s minister of industry and commerce to explore avenues for expanding bilateral relations.
The two countries are expected to sign agreements by the end of the meeting. During the 7th session of Zimbabwe-Iran Joint Commission in October 2012 in Tehran, the two sides signed two memoranda of understanding in the area of media, culture and education.
The commission also coincides with the Global Small and Medium Enterprises Expo in Harare, in which Rabei, invited by Zimbabwe’s Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises and Cooperative Development Sithembiso Nyoni, is scheduled to give a speech as guest of honor.
About 28 Iranian cooperative firms exhibit their capabilities in this exhibition in areas of construction material, handicraft, medicine and lumber products, according to deputy minister of cooperatives, labor and social welfare Mohmmad-Taghi Hossein.
