WANA (Oct 12) – Switzerland’s new ambassador to Iran has expressed the strong interest of Swiss companies in expanding their business activities in the country, emphasizing that enhancing bilateral economic cooperation will be one of his main priorities during his mission in Tehran.
Oliver Banggert, the newly appointed Swiss ambassador, said in a meeting with Samad Hassanzadeh, president of the Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA): “My two key priorities are to strengthen economic cooperation between Switzerland and Iran and to support Swiss companies already active here.”
He noted that trade between the two countries has gradually increased over the past five years but added that Swiss firms still face challenges such as access to foreign currency and the protection of intellectual property rights. “The validity of business visas for Swiss nationals has also been reduced from three years to one year, but I hope this issue can be resolved through further dialogue,” he said.
Switzerland’s new ambassador to Iran in a meeting with Samad Hassanzadeh, president of the Iran Chamber of Commerce. Social media / WANA News Agency
Hassanzadeh highlighted Iran’s potential for joint ventures, stating that the country’s free trade zones offer favorable conditions for investment. “Iran and Switzerland can cooperate in non-sanctioned areas such as technology, medical industries, petrochemicals, recycling, and water treatment,” he said.
Eisa Mansouri, head of the ICCIMA Research Center, pointed to Switzerland’s important role in Iran’s international relations and added: “Switzerland can go beyond its traditional political and humanitarian role and serve as an economic bridge linking Iran with Europe and North America.”
He also announced Iran’s readiness to cooperate with Switzerland in joint professional training programs, noting that Iran plans to train 500,000 digital economy specialists, including 5,000 advanced experts under ICCIMA’s supervision. Mansouri proposed conducting joint training and “train-the-trainer” (TOT) courses in partnership with Swiss institutions.
In conclusion, Rashidi, a board member of the Iran–Switzerland Joint Chamber of Commerce, called for closer coordination between the chamber, the Swiss Embassy, and Iran’s Foreign Ministry to strengthen economic diplomacy. He emphasized the need to revive trade volumes, which currently stand at about one-tenth of their level in 2010.