1st Nordic Iranian Business Summit, Expo in Stockholm

The Swedish-Iranian Chamber of Trade and Commerce is organizing the First Nordic Iranian Business Summit and Expo in Stockholm.

The summit is scheduled for November 20-21, 2017, and the expo for February 16-18, 2018, according to the events' website.

Hosting companies and delegations from Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark and other European countries as well as Iran, the events are aimed at introducing investment opportunities in Iran's infrastructure, ICT, mining & steel, health & pharmaceuticals, banking & finance, environment and energy.

Keynote speakers at the summit include Iran’s ambassador to Sweden, Rasoul Mohajer, and Sweden's ambassador to Iran, Helena Sangeland.

The expo boasts a 5,000-square-meter area designated for Iranian companies, organizations or individuals to showcase a wide range of products, including food, dried fruits, spices, nuts & pistachios, sweets, cookies, organic products, handcrafts, tourism and alternative medicine.

The joint chamber is a Swedish NGO that promotes trade between Scandinavian countries and emerging markets in Asia.

"However, bilateral trade between Sweden and Iran is a high priority for us. Our intention is to boost business dynamic between Iran and Sweden," the chamber says on its website.

"Iran is a new emerging market for foreign companies and investors with countless opportunities … As an outcome of the post-sanction era, there would be numerous opportunities for Iranian companies for expanding their exports into wide international market, with Swedish/Scandinavian market being a prime target … In the new era, where the sanctions are partially lifted against Iran, numerous business opportunities have been created for those companies who are thinking to get into this new emerging market, willing to take risks with a view for long-term business," it goes on to say about Iran.

Iran-based investment and consulting company Investors Group Iran is the co-organizer of the two upcoming events in Stockholm.

A part of the revenue generated at this event will be donated in the form of special grants to 10 startup entities in Iran or Nordic countries as a part of social responsibility to encourage new entrepreneurs, the organizers say.

A high-ranking political and economic mission led by Swedish Premier Stefan Lofven paid a visit to Iran in February.

The delegation included CEOs of companies like Scania, Ericsson, Elekta, Volvo, ABB, Sensys Gatso Group, Swedish Energy Agency, Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and Swedish Post and Telecom Authority, along with Danske Bank and EKN (Swedish export credit agency).

In 2003 and 2004, Iran was the 21st and 28th exporter to Sweden respectively, though in 2005, it was not among the top 30 exporters to this Scandinavian country.

During the years when sanctions blocked Iran's foreign relations, trade with Sweden shrunk to 25% of what it used to be, dropping from $1.1 billion to $282 million.  

During the February visit of the Swedish delegation, a meeting was held between Swedish Minister for European Affairs and Trade Anne Linde and Iran's Minister of Communications and Information Technology Mahmoud Vaezi.

"Our trade volume witnessed a leap last year to reach €250 million and this process will continue in the technology development sector," Vaezi said after the meeting.

Vaezi also said two Swedish banks would allocate credit lines to Iranian companies in the field of communications and information technology.