Companies contemplating the Iranian market following the lifting of sanctions are being warned to make sure that they deal with a logistics company that has practical experience in the country.
Davies Turner, the UK’s largest independent forwarder, points to its recent shipment of over 95 tons of publishing material to the 29th Tehran International Book Fair, as proof that it can deliver, according to the American Journal of Transportation.
Since the inception of TIBF in 1987, Davies Turner has transported publishers’ books to the event from across the world.
“Not a bad record,” says Davies Turner Group Chairman Philip Stephenson, but not that surprising since his company, which first established an office in Tehran in the mid-1960s, has maintained that presence with an experienced manager through all the ups and downs of trade with the country.
Stephenson believes few would dispute his company’s claim to be Britain’s number one freight forwarder to and from Iran having pioneered the overland route, as part of its multimodal service mix and remaining active in the market by maintaining its own representative office for almost half a century.
“Fifty years ago, Iran was seen as the most up and coming economy in the Middle East. Events in the late 1970s turned out very differently. But there has been enough trade over the intervening years to justify Davies Turner’s continued presence there,” he said.
“The ending of sanctions is unleashing the country’s productivity and merchant traditions, boosting Anglo-Iranian trade. I would urge companies seeking to capitalize on the trading opportunities to entrust their shipments to a company that has kept its own presence in Iran for the last half century.”
In Iran, Davies Turner is there on the ground to help Iranian business people reconnect to their trading partners in Britain, Ireland and around the rest of the world.
Stephenson adds: “Progress is slow but sure and we are carrying progressively more freight each and every month, not just to and from the UK, but cross trade involving many other countries, too.
“Our long established customer base appreciates that we have always kept our Tehran office open even in the most difficult years.
“Working within the law and the scope of the sanctions, Davies Turner has always kept air cargo, sea freight and road links between the two countries active and profitable.
“As one of the longest established forwarders in Iran we have an inbuilt advantage over less experienced operators. Our manager in Tehran understands local requirements, regulations and guidelines for doing business.”
