Scandinavian automotive supplier body, FGK, says it is looking to lead a delegation of its members to Iran early next year as the current draconian sanctions regime against Tehran starts to loosen its grip.
Automotive in particular has been granted temporary relief from some of the West’s harshest targeting, with the thaw having already seen French supplier association, FIEV, visit Iran with a view to reviving Paris’ historic partnership with Tehran.
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Ahead of the trip, FKG will host a session at its annual suppliers Forum in Gothenburg later this October, titled: ‘Iran – Old New Market’ which the Iranian Ambassador will also attend.
Several European countries, notably including France, are jockeying for position should full sanctions eventually be dropped and Iran rejoin the conventional business world, although there are still some fierce critics, who remain strongly wary of any rapprochement.
Such doubters maintain the only way to deter Tehran from any nuclear weapon ambitions it may harbour, is to impose tough sanctions, the existence of which has severely hampered the country’s once burgeoning car industry.
FKG however, is strongly supportive of opening dialogue with Iran and points to the recent easing of London-Tehran relations as a template.
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By GlobalData“[The] UK did absolutely the right thing, to open the Embassy in Tehran,” FKG managing director, Fredrik Sidahl, told just-auto on the sidelines of the inauguration of Sweden’s new active safety proving ground in Gothenburg yesterday (21 August). “It was the right thing to do.
“We have a lot of engineers coming from my network coming from Iran. They are well educated and easy to deal with. I think Iran is going to be a great market for suppliers and the automotive industry.
“The people in Iran and Sweden, they don’t see it as a political issue, they see it as another country – that does not hinder us the politics.”
FKG’s mooted journey to Iran is part of its ‘Go Global’ strategy and has already attracted interest from several Scandinavian suppliers.
Sidahl noted Volvo Bus used to enjoy significant business in Iran and had expressed an interest in the country.
“Everything is waiting, waiting and waiting for sanctions to lift,” he said.
“Meanwhile, it is quite wise to open up all these old channels again, so we are prepared.”
