In an exclusive interview with the Iran Daily, Sharif Nezam-Mafi, head of Iran-Switzerland Chamber of Commerce, said President Schneider-Ammann is expected to arrive in Iran on February 26.
The companies which will send representatives to Tehran are involved in the transportation, health and pharmaceuticals, industrial machineries and tourism sectors, Nezam-Mafi added.
The visit will open a new chapter in the economic and trade relations between the two countries, he said.
This will be (President) Schneider-Ammanns first visit to our country and will promise better days in economic ties between the two sides given the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
Switzerland has an open and competitive economy, he said, adding the government in the European nation seeks minimum involvement in economic affairs.
The Swiss private sector has full authority to decide about and initiate cooperation with Iran, Nezam-Mafi stressed.
Due to its unique characteristics and strategic geographical location, Switzerland can become Irans main gateway for economic ties with European countries, particularly in the fields of trade in energy and cereals.
He noted that at present, Swiss companies, located in the west of the country, are major exporters and importers of cereals as well as oil and petrochemicals, respectively, to and from Iran.
Also, Swiss banks have always played a key, favorable and impartial role in global trade and international economic relations.
He said the Iranian and Swiss economies have always been complementary, adding the European state normally turned to Irans energy capacities to meet its needs in return for fulfilling some of Tehrans economic requirements.
Some of the worlds leading cereal companies, producing wheat and soy, are located in Switzerland. These firms, some of which are American, have been registered in the European country and conduct their financial, insurance and payment affairs there.
Nezam-Mafi said a major part of transactions between Tehran and Berne pertains to Irans imports of cereals from Switzerland. With the inclusion of cereal trade, Swiss will become Irans fifth business partner worldwide, he noted.
Switzerland mainly exports industrial machineries and equipment, luxury products, such as watch, precision instruments, health products and pharmaceuticals to Iran while importing crude and petrochemicals from the country, he added.
During the period of stiff sanctions, Iran and Switzerland faced enormous difficulty in their transactions.
It is not solely Irans market that lures Swiss companies, they seek access to markets of other regional nations and view the country as a launch pad to the Caucasus, Central Asian and Middle East states, he stressed.
Swiss companies know that Iran is the regions safest investment target and view it as a re-export hub for sending their products, particularly foodstuff, to Pakistan, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Iraq.
Unlike some European countries, Switzerland pursues long-term visions in international ties, he said. The Swiss act independently in international relations and do their best not to be affected by political and international developments.
By IRNA
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