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Iran exhibition sees Swiss textile machinery

firms build on symposium success

The Swiss Textile Machinery Association’s pavilion at Irantex provided a busy hub to stimulate business discussions and networking
For the first time ever in Iran, Switzerland’s textile director Peter Vormbruck typified the enthusiasm of
machinery manufacturers exhibited in their own the Swiss exhibitors: “We found that customer
pavilion at the recent Irantex show, under the interest in high-quality and technology-driven
umbrella of their representative body the Swiss machinery was very positive,” he said. “There was
Textile Machinery Association (Swissmem). A total even a strong desire to overcome the financial
of 13 Swiss companies took part, reinforcing the impact complexities to enable the Iranian industry to take
of their successful symposium in Tehran last year. advantage of the imported products. We were
pleased to have some very open discussions on
The exhibition, at the Tehran fairgrounds from technology and opportunities in this important
September 4 to 7, attracted wide international market of Iran.”
participation, and Switzerland’s special pavilion –
its first for a decade – helped its companies to Following the ending of most international
make a strong impression on trade visitors. sanctions on Iran at the start of 2016, there was a
Business contacts were enhanced, and the Swiss need to reintroduce and expand the financial and
exhibitor group was able to report that some notable trade frameworks, to allow the Iranian textile sector
project negotiations were finalised at the event. to upgrade its technology levels. The 2016
symposium provided guidance on this issues via
“Feedback was very positive,” said Cornelia experts in the field, and this progress was
Buchwalder, Secretary General of the Swiss Textile continued at Irantex.
Machinery Association. “Our companies valued
their participation and the quality of business In this context, consultant Verena Utzinger attended
contacts, and the exhibition provided an excellent the show to support both Swiss and Iranian
follow-up to our Iran symposium in 2016.” partners. She outlined the work of SERV, the Swiss
Export Credit Insurance organisation, which
Swiss firms exhibiting were: Jakob Müller, secures exports of Swiss companies against
Benninger, Willy Grob, G. Hunziker, Stäubli, Norsel, political and transfer risks, as well as payment
Retech, Heberlein, SSM, Luwa, Steiger losses, and provides additional liquidity for specific
Participations, Saurer, and Drop Chemicals. A export deals.
highlight was the visit of Switzerland’s ambassador
to Iran, Mr Markus Leitner, to the pavilion. He met She commented: “SERV has many years of very
with the Swiss exhibitors and discussed the positive experience with Iranian buyers. At Irantex
opportunities and challenges of doing business we were able to present the available services for
with Iran. transactions between Swiss and Iranian
companies, and facilitate talks about the markets,
The reaction to the show from Benninger area sales politics and customs of Iran.”

October/November 2017