The market
Inhabitants:
80 million (2016)
Population growth:
1.2% (2014)
Strength:
Second largest oil and gas reserves in the world, strong GDP growth, young and relatively well qualified population
Opportunities:
Huge market for capital and consumer goods, financial strength, young and western oriented population with strong interest in modern and sophisticated products and technology
Commodities:
agrarian:
- Caviar
- Cotton
- Pistachios
- Dates
- Oilseeds
- Rice
- Wheat
mineral:
- Crude oil,
- Natural gas
- Coal
- Iron ore
- Copper
Fiscal year:
March 2015 – March 2016
(identical with Iranian New Year)
Iran is the Middle East’s leading industrial nation
- An energy superpower with the world’s largest natural gas supply and the fourth-largest proven oil reserves
- With 80 million inhabitants the second most populous nation in the Middle East and the 17th most populous in the world
- Leading industries in the Middle East in car-manufacture and transportation, construction materials, home appliances, food and agricultural goods, armaments, pharmaceuticals, information technology, power and petrochemicals
- A regional power with major influence in the region
- A top five producer in the world of apricots, cherries, sour cherries, cucumbers and gherkins, dates, eggplants, figs, pistachios, quinces, saffron, walnuts, and watermelons
- Geostrategic importance because of its central location in Eurasia and Western Asia, and its proximity to the Strait of Hormuz; a major regional and middle power, exerting considerable influence in international energy security and the world economy
- Host to Asia‘s 4th-largest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites and home to one of the world‘s oldest civilizations
- A multicultural nation comprising numerous ethnic and linguistic groups
- Sustained growth thanks to structural and political reforms
- Estimated GDP-growth of between 5% and 8% in 2017-2020
- Dynamic institutions encouraging the establishment of companies thanks to favorable fiscal policy and major economic reforms