Dalić in Iran: Numerous Opportunities Open Up for Croatian Companies in Energy and Engineering

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Crafts, Martina Dalić, who is on an official visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran from May 5 to 8, discussed strengthening bilateral economic cooperation with a number of officials from that country, with a special emphasis on issues related to the establishment of payment transactions, the Ministry of Economy reported on Monday.

According to a statement published on the Ministry’s website, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy met with the Vice President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mohammad B. Nobakht, the Minister of Economy and Finance, Masoud Karbasiyan, and the Governor of the Central Bank of Iran, Valiollah Saif.

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“The meetings focused on strengthening bilateral economic cooperation with a special emphasis on issues related to the establishment of payment transactions. Deputy Prime Minister Dalić emphasized that she is pleased that Croatian companies are welcome in the Islamic Republic of Iran, as evidenced by the contracts already concluded in the past period,” the Ministry of Economy stated.

They also conveyed Deputy Prime Minister Dalić’s statement that she was convinced that there is support from the state institutions of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the readiness of Iranian companies for cooperation.

“The Iranian market of 80 million people opens numerous opportunities for Croatian companies, especially in the fields of energy, engineering, food industry, pharmaceuticals, tourism, etc.,” Dalić highlighted.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy also participated in the ceremonial opening of the International Oil and Gas Exhibition, where she met with the Minister of Oil, Bijan Namdar Zangeneh.

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During the continuation of the visit, as announced by the Ministry of Economy, Martina Dalić will meet with the Minister of Industry, Mining and Trade, Mohammad Shariatmadary, the President of the Iranian Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mining and Agriculture, Gholamhossein Shafei, and will address the participants of the business council between the Croatian and Iranian chambers of commerce, after which ‘b2b’ meetings between Croatian and Iranian companies from the tourism, energy, and food sectors are planned.

Additionally, as part of the official visit of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy to Iran, a Croatian economic delegation organized by the Croatian Chamber of Economy (HGK) is also present, from which they announced that the first session of the Joint Business Council of the Croatian Chamber of Economy and the Iranian Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mining and Agriculture, established at the end of last year to identify and resolve issues in the economic cooperation of the two countries, will be held as part of the Iran-Croatia Economic Forum.

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HGK also emphasizes that there is significant potential for cooperation, particularly in the oil and gas sector, automotive industry, electrical energy sector, shipbuilding, food industry, tourism, and railway sector.

According to data from the State Bureau of Statistics, the total trade exchange between Croatia and Iran last year amounted to about 58 million euros. Croatia exported goods worth 5.3 million euros to Iran last year, which is 33.6 percent more than the previous year, but Croatian imports from Iran grew significantly faster, reaching 52.8 million euros last year, compared to 537 thousand euros in 2016, according to DZS data.