Scandinavian automotive supplier body, FKG, is confirming it will look to lead a supplier delegation to Iran early next year as a thawing diplomatic environment continues to take shape.
Negotiations to ease the impasse surrounding Iran’s nuclear programme are taking place in Vienna, but the automotive sector will hope temporary sanctions relief granted to its industry will continue and allow it to build momentum.
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Automotive has been exempted from some of the West’s harshest targeting and FKG is clearly eyeing opportunities for its members along the lines of French counterpart, FIEV, which has already visited Tehran with a view to reviving Paris’ historic ties with the country.
Should FKG’s aim to take its own delegation of suppliers to Iran come to fruition, it would form part of the association’s ‘Go Global’ series of member visits that has already taken in Brazil, China and Russia.
“The plan is for January [Iran trip],” FKG managing director, Fredrik Sidahl, told just-auto, at the association’s Annual Forum in Gothenburg. “But we have to ask for government financial support.
“The Go Global activity is supported by the Swedish government. It is enough to make it happen.”
Prior to FKG’s Forum in Gothenburg, the body organised a series of seminars, one of which was titled: “Iran – New ‘Old’ Market’ and which was addressed by Scandinavian-Iranian Chamber of Commerce (SIC) board member, Robert Sundqvist.
“Scandinavia and Sweden [have] one advantage and it is the level of trust and quality,” said Sundqvist. “We are working with Iranian car manufacturers and we know who is looking for a CKD licence.
“After two years you will have started CKD operations – it is ambitious but it will happen.
“It is just a question of whether it is Swedish or French companies doing it. Already today, we are working on improving trade between Iran and Sweden. As long as you follow the rules, you are today able to do a lot of business.”
FKG is also organising visits to the UK next month and in February, 2015, through the auspices of the Automotive Component Group Go Global projects.
