Русская версияDespite political pressure from the German government, Iran is
making the round of German firms, courting business partnerships.
"We will give guarantees for their investment," acting Iranian
Foreign Minister Mehdi Safari told the Monday, Aug.
18, edition of
the daily
Financial Times Deutschland
. "We are open for any and all business."
Safari did not clarify exactly what kind of business guarantees
were meant.
Targeting small, midsize firms
The country is particularly seeking small and midsize firms, which
are less likely than large firms to be able to secure their own
investments, the FTD explained.
Bildunterschrift:
Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift:
Acting FM Safari: discretion is guaranteed
Doing business with Iran is not an obvious choice, especially for
German companies. Germany is one of six nations leading
international efforts to halt Teheran's nuclear enrichment program.
Tehran insists the program in solely to produce electricity, while
many in the West believe it is a cover to build nuclear weapons.
Earlier this month, the Siegen concern Steiner caused a sensation
when it said it would sell three liquefied natural gas plants to
Iran. Although regulators gave the deal a green light, the USA and
Israel, among others, were severely critical.
German companies have kept a discreet eye on the deal ever since it
became known through the Iranian media. Steiner's 2007 sales in
Iran were valued at 3.6 billion euros ($5.3 billion), according to
the FTD.
Meanwhile, German business has criticized Berlin for failing to
adequately protect their interests. The government recently cut its
export credit guarantees, which help cover risk for companies doing
business overseas.
Germany has long been one of Iran's largest European trading
partners.
Discretion assured
Safari, who is responsible for Iran's foreign ministry's ties to
Europe, said Germans interested in doing business with Iran were
welcome to do it as far outside of the public eye as possible.
"You can get the job done without advertising it," he told the FTD.
Big companies, too, could conduct business with Iran while avoiding
public criticism -- regardless of Western sanctions, Safari added.
"I don't need to show them how to do that," he told FTD.
Safari said he plans to come to Germany in the next two months to
drum up business.
(Deutsche Welle)
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