A high-ranking NPC delegation in Spain

On June 17, 2000, a delegation from NPC, headed by Deputy Petroleum Minister and NPC President M. R. Nematzadeh paid a three-day visit to Spain. NPC Board Member, M. H. Rahbari, accompanied Nematzadeh in this trip. The trip was made in an aid to promote the relationship between NPC and the Spanish engineering companies and financial institutions. During their stay, the NPC team held talks with BBVA and Banco Santander Central Hispano (BSCH) banks and discussed ways of expanding mutual relationship. The Spanish banks assured the NPC delegation of their support for investing in Iran's petrochemicals sector, particularly in the NPC's projects.

The NPC team also visited a number of leading Spanish companies, including REPSOL, CEPSA, Intecsa UHDE and Tecnicas Reunidas. In the meeting with CEPSA officials, Nematzadeh extended his invitation to the company's Board Chairman and CEO to visit Iran in a bid to expand mutual cooperation between the two companies. Visits were also made to R&D facilities of REPSOL and CEPSA as well as REPSOL's Puertollano petrochemical plant and refinery. The NPC delegation wrapped up their visit by meeting the Spanish Secretary of State of Foreign Affairs. During the meeting, they discussed in details how to promote the two countries' ties with a particular focus on the industrial cooperation, especially the petrochemicals sector. Nematzadeh extended an invitation to the Spanish Secretary saying that the visit would foster Irano-Spanish cooperation.

The British Trade and Investment Mission in NPC

A British Trade and Investment Mission, co-led by Sir Jeremy Hanley and John Hill, met with NPC President, M. R. Nematzadeh, on June 25, 2000 at the NPC headquarters. At the meeting, NPC President briefed the delegation on the NPC's past history as well as its current and future plans saying that considering the relative advantages of Iran's petrochemicals sector, NPC is a promising place for investment. His briefing was followed by the delegates' questions. Nematzadeh told the delegation that British companies are missing the opportunities for contributing to the development of the NPC's projects mainly because of lack of support and coverage by ECGD. Asking for a message to be taken home by the British Trade and Investment Mission, Nematzadeh said that ECGD should back up the UK companies. "They are missing the chance of investing in Iran's petrochemical projects because they are not supported by the ECGD's coverage", he reiterated. The Mission co-leaders, Sir Jeremy Hanley and John Hill both expressed their confidence that "there are positive signs of improvement" in the offing.

The Mission was in Iran during 23-27 June 2000 as a follow-up to a last year visit of another UK mission to Tehran to further the economic relations between the two countries.

BASF Board Member in NPC

Max Dietrich Kley, a BASF's Member of the Board of Executive Directors and Chief Financial Officer met with the NPC President on June 26, 2000 at NPC's headquarters. The two sides reviewed their existing relationship and sought ways to broaden their cooperation. Kley said his company was keen to purchase naphtha, LPG, condensates, benzene, orthoxylene, methanol, propylene and ammonia from NPC. He also pointed out that BASF was interested to cooperate with NPC in olefins no. 10 project particularly in its alfa olefins unit. NPC called for joint production of catalysts required by its facilities. The two sides agreed to discuss this proposal in details in the future.

The contract winning consortium in NPC

Subsequent to awarding the NPC's aromatics no. 4 project contract to a consortium of Toyo Engineering Corporation of Japan, Shinwha of Korea and Sazeh Consultants of Iran, the consortium's representatives met with NPC President, M. R. Nematzadeh in Tehran. Toshihiko Hirose, President and CEO of Toyo Eng. Corp., who led the delegation, expressed his appreciation for awarding the contract to the consortium saying that they would do their best to complete the project on schedule as committed. The progress on the financing issues was reviewed at the meeting.