Estonian business delegation to visit Iran for first time
A 12-member delegation comprised of representatives of Estonian businesses embarked on a visit to Iran today.
This will be the first such high-level visit to Iran in Estonian history, whose goal is to establish closer ties between the two countries as well as support Iranian businesses in their efforts to develop business in Iran.
The delegation is scheduled to be in Iran through April 12. Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs Marina Kaljurand is to join the Estonian business delegation in Iran tomorrow.
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry noted that many Estonian businesses have already established initial contacts in Iran and some degree of communication between partners is already taking place. The high-level visit will help businesses take the next step toward more concrete agreements in their cooperative relationships, which is a vital goal of the visit.
Since many sanctions against Iran have been lifted, the country has been visited by business delegations from a number of different countries. Chamber of Commerce and Industry Project Manager Jana Silaškova found that it was now Estonia’s turn to go and become better acquainted with the Iranian market.
The business delegation includes representatives of logistics and transportation businesses who are interested in the local trade corridor, which could be used as a transport route for various goods.
Businessman Tarmo Nurmetalo noted that of particular interest to his company are goods coming in from the Commonwealth of Independent States — which comprises of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan — and China. “We would like to understand how border crossings operate there, and what’s new in what has been going on there in recent years,” Nurmetalo explained.
“We are heading there with great interest, and we already have some previously established contacts with whom we plan to meet and discuss cooperation,” he added.
Meelis Ojassoo, Counsellor at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' External Economic and Development Cooperation Department, noted that Iran’s economy is undergoing a great deal of change, and that the first steps are being taken toward a more liberal and open economy. According to Ojassoo, Estonia’s energy sector, transportation, logistics, tourism, IT, as well as its food sector are of greatest interest to their Iranian counterparts.
The Estonian business delegation consists of Tarmo Nurmetalo (CF&S Estonia), Kristjan-Jaak Reigo (Autolink Baltics), Arle Mölder and Saman Mostashari (Novira Capital), Jaanus Rahumägi (ESC Global Security-ECS), Ebekai Härm (Revala), Neinar Seli (Estiko), Taavi Einaste and Peeter Smitt (Nortal), Hannes Plinte (Goswift), Hamed Alavi (Iran-Nordic Business Center), and Aivar Kesküla (Skinest Rail).
Ojassoo from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as Silaškova and Director General Mait Palts from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry will be accompanying the delegation as well.
The visit will kick off with a business forum, which will be followed by meetings between Estonian and Iranian businesses and an introduction to the local business environment.
In addition, the delegation plans to meet with the Iranian Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance Ali Tayyebnia as well as representatives of local trade organizations.
The business delegation’s visit to Iran has been arranged as a part of the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Development Cooperation Project, which is funded by the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid funds.
Editor: Editor: Aili Sarapik