"More than 250 Spanish companies are interested in entering into joint operations with Iran," said Juan-Ramon Duran Puebla, during a meeting with head of Iran's National Petrochemical Company (NPC).
He voiced Spanish companies' interest in joining petrochemical projects in Iran, once western sanctions on Tehran are removed following the implementation of a scheme to curb Iran's nuclear activities.
There are two methods for joining Iran in its petrochemical projects by Spanish companies, he said; the companies may either enter into direct investment of projects independently or they can form up consortiums for financing projects.
Duran said Spanish companies will enter into long-term contracts with Iran. “I think trade with Iran will be a success for us.”
There are ample potentialities in the Middle East region for petrochemical activities but operating in Iran has several advantages over other places, said NPC Chief Abbas Shari-Moqaddam during the meeting.
He said SERCOBE has built itself an honorable backdrop by staying in Iran during the sanctions years, and the NPC fully trusts the company.
"Once the sanctions are lifted, many companies will bid to return to Iran of which the ones that have built themselves trust during the years will be prioritized over others," said Shari-Moqaddam.
"We are confident that a majority of Iran's [petrochemical] projects will be completed by direct finances from Spanish companies and new petrochemicals will be produced in Iran," said Amir Hussein Fallah, an NPC financial advisor and development director, at the meeting. "Spain is among a few countries which supported Iran's petrochemical industry under the sanctions and the level of trust is very high between the two countries."