During the visit of the vice president for science and technology affairs with the minister of science and technology of South Africa, development of collaboration in science and technology between the two countries was emphasized.

According to the public relations and information center of the Vice-Presidency for science and technology affairs, in a meeting between Sorena Sattari, the vice president for science and technology affairs, and Naledi Mandisa Pandor, minister of science and technology of South Africa, both parties emphasized the expansion of bilateral collaborations, regarding the development of cooperation between the two countries by pointing out their previous meeting along with the annual conference on science and technology in Japan.

In this meeting, the vice president for science and technology of Iran introduced the high potential of human resources of the country as the most important topic of interaction with the global community, stating: Iran has taken long steps to path resource-based economy and move toward an economy that depends on the ability of human resources.

He continued: currently, Iran has more than five million university students and is the fourth country of the world in terms of educating graduates in fields of engineering to move toward knowledge-based economy.

In addition, Sattari pointed out the holding of the 13^th joint committee meeting of Iran and South Africa at the end of October in Pretoria and signing a contract by the minister of foreign affairs of Iran and minister of international relations and collaborations of South Africa, marking: according to the article of “science and technology” of this contract, we are eager to expand our collaborations and interactions with South Africa.

During this meeting, Naledi Mandisa Pandor, minister of science and technology of South Africa, appreciated the hosting of the vice president for science and technology of Iran and emphasized the preparedness and presence of interaction capacities between the two countries.

According to Naledi Mandisa Pandor, the major problem of South Africa is the occupation condition of the youth of Africa, stating: establishment of startups, incubators, and innovation centers, is one of the priorities of cooperation between Iran and South Korea.

She also asserted: South Africa is prepared to provide facilities at small and medium agencies for Iranian technologists and engineers.

Ahmad Alaei Tabatabaei, deputy minister of international affairs, pointed out the cooperation of a number Iranian technological companies in various fields, such as biotechnology, medical equipment and medication, during the latest travel of minister of foreign affairs of Iran to South Africa, stating: the negotiations with companies of South Africa is a unique opportunity for expanding interactions between Iran and South Africa.

In this meeting, Mostafa Ghanei, secretary of biotechnology development, also presented a report on performed joint actions in the areas of biotechnology and medication with South Africa.

He also expressed: given the eagerness of South Africa toward collaboration in the biotechnology area, Iran is ready to cooperate in transfer of knowledge to South Africa.

At the end of the meeting, it was decided that a delegation of experts and technologists of the two countries visit the infrastructures of both parties to increase bilateral interactions and cooperation.