Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA) held a training workshop attended by instructors from OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) in its headquarters on Tuesday.
The workshop was organized by ICCIMA Technical-Engineering Services and Construction Commission and three OFID instructors as well as several government officials and private sector leaders were present. A large number of Iranian operators and contractors also attended the event.
Speaking at the opening session, Ali Naghavi, the chairman of ICCIMA Technical-Engineering Services and Construction Commission, said that this event could be a historic day for the country’s construction industry.
“With more than 50,000 engineering companies, Iran has the potential to be the leading country in the region in exports of techno-engineering services,” Naghavi said.
Mohammad Khazaei, the director general of ICC Iran, also addressed the event, noting that the OPEC Fund for International Development was launched in 1976 with the aim of offering developmental loans to non-oil countries. He stressed that member countries cannot benefit from the fund’s financing.
Mourad Bouaouina, an OFID instructor, then came to the podium and reiterated that all the financing will be directed to non-member countries.
“The basic idea is that member countries do not directly benefit from the financing unless in exceptional cases and in cases of emergency,” he said.
When asked how member countries could benefit from services provided by the fund, Bouaouina said: “Member countries can benefit through you – the operators, the consultants, the contractors, the suppliers. Because there is nothing that prevents you from participating in the procurement profits.”
“The idea behind for us to be here is to let you know about the opportunities and how for you to export your knowledge, your capacity, for you to participate in the projects that are financed by the fund. You need to understand certain things, certain principles, certain procedures, how to prepare a bid and this is why we are here to clarify certain things for you.”