Iran is looking to deepen its economic engagement with Africa by expanding trade, increasing investment and strengthening commercial partnerships across the continent, according to the head of the Iran-East Africa Joint Chamber of Commerce.
Masoud Berahman said Africa’s abundant natural resources and growing consumer markets present significant opportunities for Iran to diversify its import sources while increasing exports of industrial goods, engineering services and technology-driven products.
Speaking to Iran Chamber Online, Berahman said the chamber’s priorities for 2026 include strengthening trade with African countries where there are complementary economic advantages and greater potential for long-term cooperation. The strategy focuses on expanding bilateral trade, encouraging joint investment projects and creating new commercial partnerships.
He noted that existing diplomatic relations provide a solid platform for deeper economic engagement, with Iran maintaining 24 embassies across Africa, while 19 African nations have diplomatic missions in Tehran.
As part of efforts to increase trade volumes, the chamber has proposed a barter-based model that would see Iran source livestock feed, agricultural commodities and raw materials from African countries in exchange for exporting industrial equipment, manufactured goods and other products needed across the continent.
According to Berahman, many of the commodities Iran imports are readily available in Africa, while African markets continue to show demand for Iranian manufactured products. He believes this creates favourable conditions for mutually beneficial trade while reducing Iran’s reliance on traditional import markets.
Despite the opportunities, Berahman acknowledged that several challenges continue to limit trade growth. These include difficulties with international financial transactions, limited transport links and the absence of regular shipping and air cargo services between Iran and many African countries.
He said expanding direct flight connections, establishing regular maritime routes and providing stronger government-backed financial guarantees would make it easier for Iranian companies to enter African markets and compete more effectively.
Berahman also pointed to the success of countries such as China, India and Türkiye in expanding their commercial presence across Africa through sustained government support, including export incentives and assistance for companies participating in trade missions and international exhibitions. He said similar policies would help Iranian businesses increase their footprint on the continent.
The chamber is also placing greater emphasis on supporting medium-sized enterprises and knowledge-based companies, arguing that these businesses have considerable potential to expand into African markets with the right institutional backing.
Late last year, Berahman announced plans to strengthen investment and export support through government financial institutions. Under the proposal, the Export Guarantee Fund of Iran would provide guarantees worth up to US$3 billion for Iranian investments in Africa, while the National Development Fund would allocate approximately €2 billion to finance start-ups and entrepreneurship projects linked to trade expansion.
He has consistently argued that Africa’s population of around 1.45 billion people represents one of the world’s most promising growth markets and said Iran should reduce its dependence on neighbouring export destinations by pursuing a long-term strategy focused on emerging markets across the continent.
Berahman also called for closer cooperation between government agencies and the private sector to develop a comprehensive trade roadmap, strengthen economic diplomacy and expand Iran’s network of commercial representatives in Africa. He noted that while Türkiye has dozens of trade counsellors stationed across the continent, Iran has only a handful, highlighting the need for greater investment in commercial diplomacy to unlock Africa’s growing economic potential.