Tunisia + Malta in talks to boost trade ties: Tunisian Prime Minister Najla Bouden and Maltese counterpart Robert Abela discussed on Monday strengthening trade by making use of Tunisia’s membership in the African Free Trade Area, Agence Tunis Afrique Pressereports. This follows a previous conversation between Bouden and Maltese President Malta Geroge Vella that touched on boosting transport and trade ties in several sectors.

The GCC and Russia discuss building on trade and investment ties: A group of high-level government officials from the GCC and Russia agreed to expand trade cooperation during the joint meeting of the strategic dialogue, Saudi News Agencyreports. The meeting saw ministers discuss the significance of maintaining maritime security, as well as facing maritime-shipping and international-trade related threats.

UAE + Austria eye stronger air transport cooperation: The UAE’s ambassador to Austria Hamad Al Kaabi and Austria’s Secretary General of the Foreign Affairs Ministry Peter Tieffenthal signed an air transport services agreement to boost air transport relations, Emirati News Agency WAM reports. “This agreement paves the way for… increasing trade exchange, especially in light of the expected rise in reciprocal flights and the bolstered air transport services network, which will benefit transport companies in both countries,” Al Kaabi said.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi kicked off his three-part African tour with a visit to Kenya, Reuters reported. The trip includes planned stops in Uganda and Zimbabwe and represents the first by an Iranian president to Africa in over a decade. The visit saw officials from both countries ink five agreements and agree to boost economic ties tenfold, state owned IRNA reported.

Analysts believe that the diplomatic campaign is a bid by Iran to expand economic ties after American sanctions crippled the country’s trade. Iran’s trade with Africa is poised to surge by upwards of USD 2 bn in 2023, Reuters writes, citing figures from Iran’s foreign ministry which did not disclose comparative numbers for 2022.

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  • Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and his Angolan counterpart, Téte Antonia, discussed boosting the number of air services between the two countries. (MAP)
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