Speaking in a meeting with Sudanese Minister of Agriculture Abdel Haleem Ismail el Mutaafi here in Tehran on Sunday, Khalilian said that Iran can export technical and engineering services, agricultural machinery and modern irrigation equipment to the African nation.

The minister further announced that Tehran plans to launch an agro-industrial complex in Sudan, and added, "A plot of land in Sudan has been allocated for the construction of the complex."

According to Khalilian, Iran plans to produce wheat and sugar in the land and is ready to transfer its agriculture-related know-how to the African country.

Iran can also erect a paper producing factory and hold training courses in Sudan, the Iranian official pointed out.

During the meeting, the Sudanese minister expressed interest in training courses being held by Iran, and said joint research projects on wheat production and drawing on Iran's expertise in that field are among the main goals of his visit to the Islamic Republic.

Earlier in September, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad discussed possible ways to boost Iran-Africa ties in separate meetings with high-ranking African officials here in Tehran.

President Ahmadinejad held separate meetings with the Speaker of the National Assembly of Cote d'Ivoire, Former President of Mali, Secretary-General of the East-African Community, Foreign Ministers of Somalia, Burkina Faso, Sudan and Togo as well as Comorian Economy Minister to explore avenues for the further expansion of ties and cooperation between Iran and the African continent.

During the meetings held on the sidelines of the 'Iran-Africa Forum', the Iranian president and the African officials discussed ways to boost ties and cooperation not only at bilateral, but also at regional levels.

High-ranking officials from different African states gathered in Tehran last Tuesday to discuss ways to boost cooperation between Iran and the African continent in a conference dubbed 'Iran-Africa Forum'.

The two-day conference was attended by government and private sector officials from more than 40 African states.

Tehran has prioritized promotion of its economic and political ties with the African states and the country is now considered as one of the African Union's strategic partners.

From sudaneseonline.com Latest News Iran to Help Sudan Boost Agricultural Capabilities By [unknown placeholder $article.art_field1$] Oct 11, 2010 - 7:38:28 AM Iran to Help Sudan Boost Agricultural Capabilities TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Minister of Agricultural Jihad Sadeq Khalilian voiced Tehran's preparedness to provide Sudan with technical and engineering services as well as machineries in the field of agriculture.