IRANIMEX, supported by Dutch exhibition experts, Europort, takes place between 12 - 14 December 2017 on Kish Island and is poised to be a catalyst for an upturn in inward investment deals in the maritime and offshore sectors. There is still time to participate and open doors for your company into a market with huge potential for growth. As Europort Exhibition Manager, Raymond Siliakus, points out, "IRANIMEX offers ready-build stand options to rival any international event and exhibitors will get great value for money.” For more information about Iranimex and how to take part, please email [email protected] or go to the webpage - www.europort.nl/about-europort/europort-exports/#iranimex - for full details.

The lack of direct money transfer options has been a key cause of apprehension amongst companies wishing to do business with counterparts in Iran. Slowly but surely the situation is improving and more European banks are offering this capability, which was not permissible when sanctions were in place. For example, Italy’s Banca Popolare di Sondrio has agreed to establish a money transfer service covering a network 20 Iranian banks. As a further positive sign that the financial services sector is moving to support trade between Iran and Europe, private Iranian financial institution Saman Bank has recently decided to open a Rome branch specifically to promote investment opportunities in Iran.

European banks are showing greater willingness to extend lines of finance to support the development of trade with Iran. In what are expected to be the first of several deals, Austria’s Oberbank and Danske Bank of Denmark recently entered into financing agreements worth around US$ 1.8 billion in total.The US$ 1.2 billion Oberbank deal was signed by 14 Iranian banks, enabling it to finance new ventures by Austrian companies in Iran. Danske Bank meanwhile has made a US$ 600 million agreement with 10 Iranian banks to support business activities in the country. The decision by these high profile European banks will  strengthen confidence that normality is returning to finance and trade relations in the wake of the lifting of sanctions.