The South Korean Minister of Construction and Transportation, Yoon Ki Kim, and his accompanying delegation, including the Korean Ambassador to Tehran, met with the NPC President, M. R. Nematzadeh. At the meeting, the NPC President said that NPC has short listed several Korean companies and they are usually invited to bid for the NPC's projects. He pointed out that in the past few years the Korean companies have had a more noticeable contribution to the NPC's projects adding that the support of the Korean government in providing the financial facilities which these companies require to take part in the projects is very important.
On his part, Mr. Kim alluded to the financial crisis which had grappled South Asia economy in the late 90s saying that now that the crisis is over Korean companies can be more active in markets such as Iran. He assured the NPC President that the Government of the Republic of Korea would support and assist those Korean companies that are present in the Iranian market, notably in the NPC's projects. In reaction to a proposal laid down earlier by the South Korean Ambassador to Tehran regarding the construction of a harbor with all its facilities at PARSEE (formerly Assaluyeh) by Korean companies, Mr. Nematzadeh voiced NPC's agreement with the project saying that NPC is ready to cooperate with the Korean companies in implementing the project.
Kuwait's Qabazard interested in NPC's projects
Officials from the Kuwaiti Qabazard Co. and their partners met with the NPC President, M. R. Nematzadeh to explore ways of expanding bilateral relations. The two companies recently signed an MOU for forming a joint venture company to construct a 4-star hotel at PETZONE.
At the meeting, Nematzadeh briefed the Kuwaiti delegation on the latest status of the NPC's development projects saying that NPC was ready to consider proposals by the Kuwaiti parties to participate in its projects. Mr. Al-Ghanem, Qabazard Company's partner to this project, said that apart from construction of hotels, his company was also active in implementing power plants and oil-related projects. He expressed his company's readiness to take part in those NPC's projects that are open to private sector. Nematzadeh explained that NPC had awarded the contracts for some of its projects while joint investment negotiations were under way for the remaining projects. He proposed that the two companies could also define and work on new projects other than those already listed under the NPC's development program.
Indian Ambassador to Tehran in NPC
The Indian Ambassador to Tehran, Mr. P. Singh Haer visited NPC President to discuss issues of mutual interest including expansion of NPC's exports to India and cooperation in dimethyl ether (DME) projects. Stressing the importance of cooperation between the two countries, especially in energy and petrochemicals sector, Mr. Nematzadeh said NPC was ready to jointly implement a DME project with India and third party technology owners. Nematzadeh also referred to the NPC's readiness to expand its trade ties with India and to follow up the export of its products including urea and ammonia to Indian markets.
A high ranking Saudi delegation visits NPC
A high ranking Saudi delegation, led by the Head of Royal Commission for Industrial Areas of Yanbu and Al-Jubail, Prince Abdullah Bin Al-Thanayan met with Deputy Petroleum Minister and the NPC President, M. R. Nematzadeh. At the meeting, NPC President praised the achievements made by the Saudi petrochemical industry expressing hope that the two countries can launch strategic cooperation in petrochemicals sector. On his part, Prince Al-Thanayan proposed that NPC and Royal Commission initiate research and development programs in the petrochemicals. The two sides exchanged views on the NPC's privatization policies.
During their stay in Iran, the Saudi delegation visited the city of Esfahan and toured Esfahan Petrochemical Complex (EPC) as well as the city's historical monuments. At EPC, the complex officials briefed the delegation on the facility's history, operation and future expansion plans.
A German economic delegation discusses bilateral trade with NPC
A trade delegation from the German's state of Niedersachsen, headed by the state's Minister of Economics, Technology and Transport, Dr. Peter Fischer, arrived in NPC to discuss issues of mutual interest with Deputy Petroleum Minister and the NPC President, M. R. Nematzadeh. The NPC President elaborated on the current relations between NPC and the German companies. Dr. Fischer, on his part, told the NPC President that during the past few years the relation between the two countries had witnessed a surge. He expressed hope that the relation would develop further in the future. Then the two sides exchanged views on areas of possible cooperation including training courses and seminars as well as trade ties.
A Foster Wheeler team reviews ties with NPC
A team from Foster Wheeler, headed by Ian M. Bill, Chairman and Chief Executive of Foster Wheeler Ltd, arrived in NPC to discuss plans for future cooperation between the two companies. At a meeting with the NPC President, Ian M. Bill stated that Foster Wheeler is looking for long term opportunities in Iran's petrochemicals sector especially in supplying engineering and procurement services as well as providing financial facilities for the NPC's projects. Vice President of Foster Wheeler Corp., Mr. G. Bachiddu who was also present at the meeting expressed his company's interest to cooperate with NPC in its acetic acid project.
As a part of an Irano-European consortium, Italy's Foster Wheeler recently won a contract for the detailed engineering and equipment supply for the NPC's engineering polymers project.
Shell Chemicals' Vice President discusses joint projects with NPC President
Shell Chemicals' Vice President, Rein Willems met with the NPC President to review the progress of their joint future projects. In November 1999, the two companies signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a joint venture company for the construction of a monoethylene glycol (MEG) plant and a polyethylene (PE) plant based on an ethane cracker. The two companies have defined a plan of action to continue with the MEG and PE feasibility studies and to start the engineering phase in '01.
The South Korean Minister of Construction and Transportation, Yoon Ki Kim, and his accompanying delegation, including the Korean Ambassador to Tehran, met with the NPC President, M. R. Nematzadeh. At the meeting, the NPC President said that NPC has short listed several Korean companies and they are usually invited to bid for the NPC's projects. He pointed out that in the past few years the Korean companies have had a more noticeable contribution to the NPC's projects adding that the support of the Korean government in providing the financial facilities which these companies require to take part in the projects is very important.
