March 14, 2016   + + +  Iran was also badly affected in the shipping sector by the long-standing sanctions. It thus now wants to catch up as fast as possible on the technological front – and in this respect sees Germany as its most important business partner. “We were deeply impressed by the great openness of our Iranian business partners, particularly also in the state-owned enterprises, and anticipate a rapid surge in bilateral business as soon as this is permitted by the parameters – especially export control
and the bank situation,” explained VDMA Managing Director Hauke Schlegel at the conclusion of a recent delegation trip to Iran.

A number of the decision-makers visited in Teheran are expected for a return visit on the occasion of the shipbuilding fair SMM in Hamburg in September.

The maritime delegation accompanied by the sector association VDMA – Marine Equipment and Systems took 14 German company representatives to Tehran to visit the key companies in Iranian shipping at the beginning of March. There were discussions with the leading state shipping companies IRISL and NITC as well as the Port and Maritime Organisation (PMO) and meetings with private-sector firms and experts such as the offshore company DanaEnergy in Tehran.

The trip was organized by the Hamburg-based BIU and supported by the Iranian embassy. On the German side, apart from the VDMA some
leading companies in the shipbuilding and marine equipment industry as well as the shipping and port sector also participated in the trip.

“It was particularly interesting to hear the statements on the expected ‘real’ development of the major projects both in ship newbuilding planning and the expansion of the port infrastructure that have been frequently publicized and at the same time questioned outside Iran. The VDMA plans to stage an
event for a large number of our maritime equipment suppliers in Tehran this year – there is overwhelming demand for and interest in German technologies and services,” concluded Schlegel.

The VDMA is currently setting up its own liaison office in Tehran. Iran will also be represented for the first time with its own national pavilion at the forthcoming shipbuilding fair SMM 2016 in Hamburg.

Source and more information: Hauke Schlegel,
VDMA – Marine Equipment and Systems, Phone: 040 / 507 207-17
E-mail: hauke.schlegel@vdma.org