Iranians in Zimbabwe for 8th Joint Permanent Commission Cde Mumbengegwi
Cde Mumbengegwi

Cde Mumbengegwi

Zvamaida Murwira Senior Reporter
A high-powered delegation from the Islamic Republic of Iran led by the Minister of Co-operatives, Labour and Social Welfare, Dr Ali Rabiei, arrived in Harare yesterday for the 8th Joint Permanent Commission that will review progress of various bilateral agreements between Harare and Tehran.

The delegation was welcomed at Harare International Airport by Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi and Iranian Ambassador Mr Mohammad Amin Nejad. In an interview soon after their arrival, Dr Rabiei said they had come to strengthen ties between Harare and Tehran.

“Your country is very important,” he said. “We have a long- standing relationship, politically, culturally and economically, we have a lot in common.”

Dr Rabiei paid tribute to President Mugabe for being a revolutionary.

“We have great attachment on the co-operation between our two sister countries,” he said. “Zimbabwe has great potential. I came here to strengthen ties.”

Minister Mumbengegwi said the Joint Permanent Commission would help the two countries to explore more areas of working together.

“This Joint Permanent Commission is yet another opportunity to explore more areas of co-operation for our two countries,” he said.

Minister Mumbengegwi said the bilateral relationship had covered a lot of ground in enhancing the lives of the people.

Dr Rabiei is leading a 40-member delegation comprising government officials and businesspeople.

The Joint Permanent Commission meetings, to run from today, will start with a two-day meeting of senior officials and then have another day for ministerial meetings.

The meeting was expected to build on a similar meeting held at the last session in October 2012.

On Friday, Mr Nejad said the Permanent Joint Commission was to coincide with the Global Small to Media Enterprises Expo set to start in Harare tomorrow.

He said the expo was within the framework of the understanding between Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises and Co-operative Development led by Minister Sithembiso Nyoni and her counterpart from Iran.

At least 28 Iranian companies would be exhibiting at the expo and representatives would also attend a conference to be officially opened by President Mugabe.

Mr Nejad said the Joint Permanent Commission was essential in establishing stable and sustainable relations so that the two countries could find common ground on various bilateral, economic, social and political issues.

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