TEHRAN (PEDCO) -- For the first time, Iranian companies have made a robust presence at the China International Import Expo, recognized as the world's premier import exhibition.
According to public relations and international affairs department of PEDCO, the First Vice President emphasized during the Iran-China trade conference while visiting the booths of the National Iranian Oil Company and PetroIran: "It's hoped that this exhibition will boost familiarity with the potentialities between Iran and China."
Mohammad Mokhber, while urging China to encourage its oil companies to invest in joint projects in Iran's oil and gas sectors, stated: "Major Iranian companies are fully prepared to export knowledge-based products to China."
At the Iran-China trade conference held at the Primus Hotel with the attendance of traders and economic activists from both countries, he added: "The 13th government is determined to remove existing obstacles in the path of Iranian and Chinese company collaborations and to create the necessary framework for stable and beneficial relations for both parties.
President Raisi's historic visit to the People's Republic of China in February of this year and his meeting with President Xi Jinping marked a new phase in the expanding relations between Iran and China in both Western and Eastern Asia."
Reiterating Iran's strategic goals of developing and deepening relations with neighboring countries, the BRICS group, Shanghai Cooperation Organization members, and especially China, he continued: "Expanding economic and trade relations with neighboring countries and the targets based on a precise understanding of their capacities and advantages are pivotal.
The Islamic Republic of Iran today holds the world's top rank in known oil and gas reserves and, in terms of recoverable reserves diversity, ranks seventh globally and, if extensive exploratory operations are conducted, could potentially rank third."
The First Vice President highlighted Iran's unique geographical and strategic position concerning the North-South and East-West corridors, considering it an exceptional position.
He emphasized: "With investment and infrastructure completion, many countries from Southeast Asia to Europe and neighboring countries can benefit from its advantages. Considering the coasts of the Caspian Sea, the Persian Gulf, the Oman Sea, and the economic focus on maritime issues, the potential for wealth creation, employment, production, and imports exists."
Ehsan Khandouzi, the Minister of Economy and Finance, expressed: "We are currently in one of the most prosperous and vibrant periods of cooperation with China, both economically and commercially, and in long-term investment collaborations. We hope this bright prospect will practically manifest itself in projects that the beloved Iranian people will soon witness."
National Iranian Oil Company CEO, Mohsen Khojasteh-Mehr, representing the Ministry of Petroleum at the 6th China International Import Expo, stated: "The main actors determine the global energy future, and Iran, as one of the key players, has an investment opportunity of $250 billion in the oil industry over the next 8 years."
He said: "Iran's participation in this exhibition signifies extensive economic interactions, especially in the energy and international trade sectors."
Khojasteh-Mehr added: "We aim to create a sustainable strategic platform and an international market-oriented commercial environment. The doors between Iran and China are open, and the trend of openness is expanding. The Islamic Republic of Iran has shown in practice that it offers a secure and stable market in the energy trade domain."
Highlighting Iran's significant presence, especially in the Ministry of Petroleum, he emphasized: "This exhibition reflects extensive interaction in industrial and economic sectors, particularly in the energy field."
The Deputy Minister of Petroleum stated: "Iran holds the first rank globally in simultaneous oil and gas reserves, with approximately 340 billion barrels equivalent of crude oil, requiring an investment of about $250 billion in upstream and downstream sectors over the next 8 years."
Khojasteh-Mehr clarified: "In the upstream sector, with the implementation of about 100 projects related to the development of oil and gas fields, we have around $160 billion investment opportunities. We have planned to increase crude oil production capacity to 5.7 million barrels per day and 1.5 billion cubic meters of gas."
Khojasteh Mehr added: “There's an intention to create new capacity of approximately forty million tons annually in petrochemical projects, totaling around 35 billion dollars, and establishing a new refining capacity of 1.5 million barrels, amounting to about 80 billion dollars in investment opportunities within Iran.”
The CEO of the National Iranian Oil Company further stated: “A significant portion of this investment pertains to the purchase and procurement of goods.
Iran, alongside utilizing domestic capabilities, engages in importing and exporting goods to China, opening avenues for exchange of experiences and products in this sector.”
Khojasteh-Mehr continued: “Investments have the potential to contribute to global energy sustainability and security.
The future of global energy lies in the hands of key players, and Iran, as a major player in the energy sector, holds a defining role.”
Achieving harmonization in the export of petrochemical products in target markets
Morteza Shahmirzai, attending the sixth session of China International Import Expo (CIIE), expressed: “Various products produced by Iranian petrochemical complexes are of the highest quality and are being supplied in various countries worldwide.Alignment among exporters is crucial in this path.”
He emphasized the necessity to prevent negative competition among petrochemical industry exporters, stating: “Exporters within the Islamic Republic should operate in balance and cooperation, steering clear of detrimental competition. The National Petrochemical Company has laid out commendable plans for unity and collaboration among exporters.”
The CEO of the National Petrochemical Company asserted: “It's crucial to judiciously identify target markets and focus on serving the country's interests in supply and sales.”
Shahmirzai highlighted the failures of adversaries and enemies of the Islamic Republic system in various domains, adding: “The National Petrochemical Company, through cohesive and strategic policies, aims to facilitate the unified presence of Iranian petrochemical products in target markets.”
He continued: “China stands as one of the largest methanol producers globally and also ranks among the significant importers of petrochemical products. Considering Iran's substantial methanol production capacity in the petrochemical industry, this country becomes the primary market for Iranian producers.”
At the China Import Expo, Iranian products were showcased on Chinese e-commerce platforms.
Mohsen Bakhshiyar, the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to China, attending the International Trade in Services Fair in Beijing, stated: “For the first time, the Iranian booth directly showcases Iranian goods on the JD platform for Chinese consumers.
Referring to the pivotal role of the International Trade in Services Fair in offering services to people, he mentioned that companies with high capabilities are participating and presenting their products and services to the public.”
Regarding Iran's objective in participating in this exhibition, the ambassador added: “Naturally, our country aims, through the Iranian National Pavilion in this fair, to present high-quality Iranian products, predominantly handicrafts and Iranian-made products, to the Chinese people, hoping for their appreciation. Today, in the Iranian Pavilion, we inaugurated the JD platform for the digital and e-commerce presentation of Iranian products for the first time.”
Bakhshiyar continued discussing the importance of e-commerce and the International Trade in Services Fair in its development, highlighting its time-saving, pollution-reducing, and traffic-easing aspects, asserting the necessity of providing Iranian products to people via e-commerce and digital platforms. Today, we facilitated the display of Iranian products on the JD platform.
In continuation, the Iranian ambassador addressed Iran's involvement in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS, emphasizing the role of these events in cooperation between Iran, China, and other members of these groups.
Iran recently joined the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and became a member of BRICS, which are highly significant events given Iran's geopolitically crucial position globally, enhancing communication among member countries more than ever before.
In Iran, numerous opportunities exist for members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS to utilize, including Iran's abundant oil, gas resources, and energy.
Iran, due to its unique geopolitical position, can facilitate the transit of goods and products from the East to the West.
China's trade exhibition: A suitable opportunity for interaction and identifying collaboration prospects
Mansour Mehrshad, the acting head of the PetroIran Development Company, present at the China International Import Expo, stated: “This exhibition is China's largest trade fair, hosting over 50 Iranian companies, presenting a suitable opportunity for Iranian companies to negotiate and enter agreements with their audiences and customers.”
He announced: “The China Import Expo is an excellent opportunity not only to identify collaboration prospects with Chinese companies but also to showcase our capabilities, knowledge-based products, and services.
The head of the PetroIran Group detailed the company's latest endeavors in supporting knowledge-based companies and empowering engineers, resulting in innovative achievements in the extraction and recovery domain.”
Mehrshad continued: “At the China Import Expo, PetroIran not only highlighted its capabilities but also outlined collaboration opportunities with active companies in the oil and energy sector.
Negotiations were initiated with capable companies.”
Additionally, he discussed the new investment capacities in China and clarified: “Smart integrated management of oil and gas wells and fields, challenges associated with localizing hydraulic fracturing methods, enhancing and smartifying technologies related to horizontal well drilling services, managed pressure drilling techniques, efficient oil and oily wastewater treatment systems with a domestic production approach, various manual fluid valves, intelligent pigs, and drilling tubes were among the topics addressed during this visit.”
In this exhibition, the head of the PetroIran Group engaged in negotiations with several companies specializing in upstream sectors, investments, and acquiring cutting-edge technologies in the oil and gas field.
It was agreed upon, in coordination with representatives of the National Iranian Oil Company, to collaborate in upstream oil areas, including engineering, procurement, and execution in surface and subsurface sectors, seismology, drilling, exploration, facility construction, pipelines, and more.
Mehrshad explained: “A collaboration agreement regarding the development of shared fields, particularly gas, was signed on the sidelines of this exhibition, and necessary measures will be taken in coordination with the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC).”
It's worth noting that the sixth edition of the China International Import Expo, commencing on the 5th of November and concluding on the 10th of November 2023 in Shanghai, consisted of four sections: national pavilions, commercial pavilions, international economic sections, and cultural exchange activities.
Representatives from 145 countries, regions, and international organizations attended this event.