ZANZIBAR President Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi has named the agriculture sector as a key area to strengthen diplomatic cooperation between Tanzania and Iran.

Dr Mwinyi encouraged the partnership in the sector, praising Iran for its advancements in agricultural technology.

He made the remarks at State House Zanzibar yesterday while speaking with Iranian Minister for Agriculture Dr Gholamreza Nouri who arrived with a delegation of 15 experts from various development sectors in Iran.

Dr Mwinyi said that agriculture is a significant part of the economy in Tanzania Mainland, given its vast geographical resources.

He urged Iran to enhance cooperation by sharing experiences, methods and technologies in the field.

Regarding Zanzibar, Dr Mwinyi noted that the isles primarily focus on spice cultivation, as a large portion of its economy relies on tourism which contributes significantly to the overall economy.

He also informed his guest about efforts to revitalise and strengthen historical sites to boost heritage tourism and improve existing cooperation between Tanzania and Iran.

President Mwinyi spoke on the maritime transport subsector and requested Iran to increase collaboration in the area to enhance trade and economic ties through the ports of both nations.

On cooperation with the private sector between Tanzania and Iran, President Mwinyi assured the minister that Zanzibar Chamber of Commerce would strengthen ties with Iran to foster sustainable economic development between the two sides.

In response, Dr Gholamreza praised the strong diplomatic relations between Iran and Tanzania and added that to further improve cooperation, he welcomed Tanzania to establish an embassy in Iran.

The minister also stated that they would sign agreements with Tanzania in various development sectors, including agriculture, tourism, education, trade and engineering while promising to provide support and exchange experiences and technologies in the said areas.