Representatives of French firms were in Tehran for a three-day visit ending Wednesday to offer solutions in the fields of aerospace maintenance and airport infrastructure, and explore business opportunities in talks with major Iranian airlines, suppliers and MRO companies.
The mission included representatives of firms active in maintenance, repair and operations, manufacture of parts and equipment, airport security, aeronautics and ground support equipment, namely Aerotech Pro, Dedienne Aerospace, Laselec, LOGYX, PGA Electronic, Reel, Techman Head and Toulouse Air Spares.
The mission visited officials of Iran Air, Aseman Airlines, Civil Aviation Organization of Iran, Iranian Aviation and Space Association, and Payam Cargo Airport and Special Economic Zone.
In a telephone interview with the Financial Tribune, Eric Le Devehat, sales manager at Techman-Head, said the aim of the visit was to “renew the relationship the company had with Iranian airlines before the sanctions”.
Techman-Head produces a comprehensive range of products and services for ground support equipment from quick-release pins to test benches, tripods, engine trolleys and all the aviation tools required for aircraft maintenance.
The meetings, according to Le Devehat, were limited to preliminary discussions though.
“The next step would be to give another visit next year to go deeper,” he said, hoping the next trip to Tehran will be before March, when the Iranian year ends.
“Iran is a big market,” El Yakin Di Mamba, sales manager at Reel, manufacturer of complex lifting and handling systems and integrated system solutions, told FT on Wednesday. “There are a lot of needs” in Iran’s aviation market.
Specializing in aerospace applications, the company boasts expertise in the development and manufacture of equipment for aircraft assembly and maintenance.
Iranian companies “need to improve their MRO operations” and they “are willing to have good collaboration,” he said.
Di Mamba said his company plans to open an office in Tehran.
“We are looking for long-term relationship with Iran,” he said.
The Reel manager added that his company is planning to authorize Iranian companies to produce some of the equipment domestically.
“This will give confidence to airlines and authorities” in doing business with Reel. However, there still remain challenges and ambiguities. “The challenge is how to define a good solution to finance those projects,” Di Mamba said. “Also, there are a few question marks about the sanctions.”
Financial hurdles are among the reasons for Iran’s failure in finalizing deals with French plane manufacturer Airbus and its American rival Boeing.
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