TPO chief sees Tehran construction expo boosting Iran, regional building sector
A major construction industry exhibition in Tehran can help advance the sector in Iran and the region and lead to the development of construction projects and related equipment, Iran’s Trade Promotion Organization chief Mohammad-Ali Dehqan Dehnavi said in a message to the event.
The 26th International Exhibition of Building and Construction opened on Tuesday with 600 Iranian and foreign companies taking part. It will run through Aug. 21 at the Tehran International Permanent Fairgrounds.
Dehqan Dehnavi said the exhibition provides an opportunity for construction industry professionals to learn about the latest technologies, modern construction methods, new building materials, smart-building equipment, mechanical and electrical systems and specialized engineering services.
He described the event as one of the largest exhibitions in the Middle East and the largest in Iran in the construction sector, saying companies from Iran and other countries were taking part.
Companies attending the exhibition can introduce their products to new markets and explore potential cooperation with foreign companies, he said.
He said Iran’s construction market had significant potential because of domestic demand and that the exhibition could help expand the market for knowledge-based companies.
He also pointed to Iran’s potential to export construction materials and products, saying the country had competitive advantages in global markets because of its abundant raw materials, inexpensive energy, relatively low labor costs and the quality of its products.
Iraq, Turkey and Afghanistan are among the biggest importers of Iranian construction materials, he said, adding that geographical proximity, lower transportation costs and favorable customs tariffs make those markets attractive for Iranian exports.
Iran also has the capacity to export at least 1 million metric tons of steel structures a year, given its production of high-quality and competitive steel, Dehqan Dehnavi said.
He said exports of construction materials could become a major source of foreign-exchange revenue and an important driver of economic growth, but structural barriers and external problems continued to hamper the sector’s expansion.
Effective cooperation between the government, trade institutions and exporters, as well as compliance with domestic and international legal requirements, was necessary to develop the sector’s export potential, he said.
The exhibition, organized by Iran’s Cooperative Chamber, covers building materials, equipment and machinery, doors and windows, elevators and escalators, mechanical and electrical installations, smart systems, safety equipment, architecture and modern design, and knowledge-based products.