An Iranian buyer speaks to a Korean industry professional at the 2016 Korean Expo in Tehran. The trade show, held from May 23 to 25, was organized as a follow-up to President Park Geun-hye's official state visit to Iran earlier this month.
A trade show featuring some 81 Korean industrial firms launched in Tehran last week, backed by great interest from the Iranian government and local buyers.
The 2016 Korean Expo in Tehran, held from May 23 to 25, was organized as a follow-up to President Park Geun-hye's official state visit to Iran earlier this month. The goal was to pave the way for market expansion and to forge stronger economic ties between the two nations.
Kim Jaehong (fifth from left), president of the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency, Sorena Sattari (fifth from right), the Iranian vice-president for science and technology, and other dignitaries get ready to cut the ribbon during the opening ceremony of the 2016 Korean Expo in Tehran.
During the opening ceremony, Sorena Sattari, the Iranian vice-president for science and technology, said, "The Iranian government asks that industrial powers like Korea invest in Iranian R&D and advanced technology so that we may enter foreign markets together." He further requested that topnotch Korean manufacturing firms take an active interest in the Iranian market.
Abolfazl Goudarzi, vice-president of Golrang, an Iranian consumer goods company, said he came to the trade show to expand business opportunities in sectors like automobiles, oil and gas. He said, "We're very interested in collaborating with Korean businesses that possess the proper technical expertise."
Korean firms represented at the 2016 Korean Expo in Tehran were primarily from the industrial and capital goods sectors, reflecting the Iranian government's current push toward industrialization. Firms specializing in electricity, machinery, components & parts, automobile parts, steel, factories & shipbuilding, and chemicals filled the exhibition halls. Industry representatives were able to hold one-on-one consultations with over 500 Iranian buyers.
On the sidelines, an investment seminar was held for a group of 100 Korean and Iranian industry professionals. The Organization for Investment, Economic & Technical Assistance of Iran (OIETAI) headed the seminar, giving advice on Iran's current investment climate and incentive system.
Kim Jaehong, president of the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), said, "The 2016 Korean Expo in Tehran is the first trade show led by a foreign government since Iran's economic sanctions were lifted. It's our hope that the event will serve as a foundation for Korean businesses to flourish in the Iranian market."
By Lee Hana
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA)
hlee10@korea.kr
Iranian buyers check out the various smart devices on offer at the 2016 Korean Expo in Tehran.
The 2016 Korean Expo in Tehran features booths where visitors can try out virtual reality goggles and play interactive video games developed in Korea.
The 2016 Korean Expo in Tehran, held from May 23 to 25, features exhibits by some 81 Korean firms.