For the first time after the end of international trade sanctions, Iran will be represented by a national pavilion at SMM Hamburg, one of the world’s leading international maritime trade fairs. “An industry fair is a great platform for building new relationships and getting to know each other,” Bernd Aufderheide, President and CEO of Hamburg Messe und Congress GmbH said in a press release. “Iranian businesses are showing a lively interest in European products and German know-how.”
“SMM is the maritime sector’s most important platform for face-to-face networking and closing business deals,” Hauke Schlegel, chairman of the German engineering industry association VDMA, added. “Following the lifting of the trade sanctions, the country is in great need of innovation and new ships. We see great potential for collaboration with Iran.”
Iran had been isolated from global trade for many years. The trade sanctions were lifted in January 2016 after international investigators concluded that the country had complied with the terms of a nuclear agreement. According to the national shipping company, Iran intends to invest roughly $120 billion by the year 2020 to rebuild its national fleet.
SMM 2016 will take place from September 6th to September 9th in Hamburg.
