More Recent News...

As of the 1st of October Kala Naft Calgary has closed it's offices.
Procurement is to be centralized through the offices in London for the time
being. This follows a decree of about 6 months ago that states that all
state companies should close their international offices. The rationale
being that with modern communications you really don't require a physical
presence which is of course expensive to maintain. It is expected that all
of Kala's international offices will be shut down shortly.

ICBC Members meet with new Trade Commissioner and Desk Officer for Iran

On Sept. 3, 2003 ICBC members received a special briefing from Mr. John Rodney (third from left), newly appointed Canadian Trade Commissioner at the Canadian Embassy in Tehran and Ms. Chrystiane Roy (fourth from left), Desk Officer for Iran, DFAIT. Mr. Rodney will be taking up his posting in Tehran by end of September.

Mr. Khamoushi: Private Sector Insignificant Share in Key Industries
Aug. 20 – Iran News

TEHRAN -- Head of Iran's Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Mines (CILIUM), Albania Khamoushi, here yesterday said that the private sector's share in key industries is limited.

He told IRNA that ICCIM should encourage the private industry to venture making advantageous investments in petrochemical and downstream oil industries.

Khamoushi was reelected chairman of Iran's Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Mines (ICCIM) for the fifth consecutive term on Tuesday in a campus election by 95 out of 179 votes cast.

Turning to current difficulties facing the private sector in having a share in the economic affairs, he reiterated that to achieve a dynamic economy in the country, it needs to be modernized. "To develop the economic sector, ICCIM should prompt non-Iranian and Iranian expatriate investors to make investments in Iran," he added. He said that job creation as well as development of small and medium industries will be among the priorities of ICCIM's future plans. Khamoushi noted that the measures so far taken with respect to employment are insufficient and stressed that ICCIM should take serious steps to the effect, given that several active economists and experts from the private sector are members of the chamber. The official noted that establishment of small and medium industries on a large scale is one way to solve the crisis of unemployment.

"Turning to foreign relations and the political pressures imposed on Iran by the U.S., which is mainly aimed at preventing the country from becoming a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), he said that Iran should pave the way for becoming a WTO member by signing bilateral and multilateral contracts as well as free trade agreements," he added. Concerning his reelection, he said that it was held in a sincere and favorable atmosphere and was attended by the majority of representatives of Tehran chamber, the chambers of various cities and the associated organizations. "The presence of representatives of the industrial sector and two members of the board of directors of Tehran Chamber of Commerce in ICCIM marks the prospect of close cooperation between the two chambers," he added.

He pointed out that development of Iran's economy and backing the private sector and prompting it into taking a greater share in the economic affairs is one of the main objectives of ICCIM. Khamoushi hoped that along with the new board of directors he will manage to materialize the economic expectations of the country.