The first brainstorming session of export intermediaries of the Vice-Presidency for science and technology affairs was held in the presence of export management companies.

According to the public relations and information center of the Vice-Presidency for science and technology affairs, export intermediaries are supported by the Vice-Presidency for science and technology affairs in the form of export management companies, export bases and foreign brokers to focus on activities in line with the export of knowledge-based products in various technology and geography fields.

Ruhollah Estiri, director-general of the international business development office of Vice0Presidency for science and technology affairs, expressed on the first brainstorming session of export intermediaries of the Vice-Presidency for science and technology affairs in the presence of export management companies: given the high number of knowledge-based products in various technology fields and export markets for introducing our domestically produced goods to the world, we need a specialized export network to create and guide the process of production to market.

In addition, Masoud Hafezi, deputy of director-general of the international business development office of the Vice-Presidency for science and technology affairs, explained about the creation of foreign brokers’ network and their presented services in line with the development of export, affirming: the role of foreign brokers in elimination of barriers to export and facilitation of export along with other export management companies and export bases is undeniable.

He continued: this is due to the fact that foreign brokers, who are part of foreign companies located at target markets, play a significant role in paving the way of export by their presence in the target market and provide services, such as export counseling, exhibition services, technology transfer, financial supports and legal services.

During this meeting, companies and export bases of the Vice-Presidency for science and technology affairs, such as “Tejarat-Afarinan-e Paydar”, “Pajhuheshgaran Fan Gostar”, “Houshmand Karan Danesh”, “International Knowledge-based Businesses”, “Zharfa Pazhouhan Noavar”, “Tejarat Pars Sharif”, “Rasta”, “Fenap”, “Tavana”, “Homay-e Mehr Andisheh Sazan”, “Nourafarin Ide”, and “Darudarman Salafchegan”, expressed their ideas, strategies and suggestions for better and more successful results in export.

Given the fact that the high council of export pays little attention to the concept of knowledge-based, it was required in this meeting to create a joint headquarter for export management companies in the field of knowledge-based and to hold regular meetings with representatives of the ministry of foreign affairs, export development organization, export development bank, export guarantee fund and other organizations involved in this area.

In addition, all of the companies emphasized the important of exclusive support of foreign export brokers to more focus on export activities of knowledge-based products through allocating human resources, who are supported by the Vice-Presidency for science and technology affairs and are located at the broker’s company. Some of the other requests mentioned in this meeting were use of experiences of the European Union and the rules governing export and business development agencies in European Union for benchmarking to regulate the relations between export brokers and export management companies.

The topic of using the capacities of foreign tenders, which is somehow one of the actual needs of export markets, was suggested by the companies. Moreover, problems related to the provision of bank guarantees, lack of broker relations between the banks of Iran and target countries, lack of export record at knowledge-based companies, which leads to serious defects in necessary documentations for implementing the projects. These are the current problems of obtaining international tenders and implementing the obligations of knowledge-based companies, which were explained in the meeting by “Tejarat-Afarinan-e Paydar Co.” from Tabriz in detail.

Furthermore, it was recommended that more interactions be made with the ministry of foreign affairs and exclusive financial support packages be provided by the Vice-Presidency for science and technology affairs, so that knowledge-based companies are able to gain necessary export experiences to participate in foreign tenders in the future, obtaining their share of export markets.

Emulating the methods used in China and Turkey, which have achieved their export goals by providing an honorary government ruling for active companies of the private sector in Iran, can highlight the role of the private sector in the development of knowledge-based exports and high aspirations of Islamic Republic of Iran. During this meeting, export management companies emphasized the importance of creating permanent exhibitions in target export countries, especially African countries. In addition, special attention was paid to solving the problem of bank guarantees for large plant and construction contractors for their involvement in developing countries of Africa.

The present export management companies in the meeting agreed on the importance of development of an export network, support of relations between knowledge-based companies and export management companies provided by the Vice-Presidency, more support of companies for participation in international exhibitions and helping the companies be permanently present in target export companies through foreign brokers.