Ahmad Pourfallah is the managing director of Secco Iran, a reputable company involved in design and construction operations in such projects as high rises, large industrial plants, refineries and airports. Pourfallah has a long experience of joint investment and working with European partners. His answers to the questions of Iran International maybe the majority voice of the private sector.

Secco is the family name of an Italian industrialist who started in 1930 the production of galvanized profiles and pre-painted galvanized profiles without any use of welding, which gained widespread use due to their advantages. Secco Iran is one of the 50 Secco plants around the world which began the production of profile and other products in partnership with and under license of Secco Italy in 1977.
In addition to the production of over 45 kinds of profile to meet the needs of production lines and industrial units (including the auto industry), Secco Iran’s products may be divided into three categories: Building Structures, Office Furniture and Security Structures. We are going to offer new designs on the market soon for facades, false ceilings, and manually-operated shutters.

If we choose the right partner and know where our interests lie, joint ventures with European firms or any foreign firm would undoubtedly prove advantageous to both Iranian companies and Iran. Of these advantages mention can be made of: supply of the required liquidity, transfer of modern technology, and enhancement of management qualities through the transfer of experiences of foreign managers and investors.
Foreign investment may be enhanced through adjustment of tax rates and the Labor Code, facilitation of visa issuance, more transparent laws and regulations, and having a unified and fixed exchange rate among others.
Of course, Iran has its own advantages to offer foreign investors namely a market housing 60 million of local population as well as the market of neighboring countries with 300 million of population. Inexpensive labor, cheap energy and abundance of mineral, agricultural, chemical and industrial reserves are other merits possessed by Iran.

Regrettably, the volume of foreign investments so far made in Iran is insignificant. Foreign investors have not been very interested in investing in Iran. However, in the recent two or three years, many improvements have been achieved in this regard. Allocation of various credits and foreign direct investments all give promises of a good start in attraction of foreign investment. What must be noted here is that foreign investment brings with it several associated advantages. It is not limited to cash.

Capital follows profit. Profit, in turn, is achieved through security; political, social and economic stability; legal and steady support; high purchase power of the public and standard consumption in the host country. Definitely, other factors such as visa and travelling facilities, convenient housing, fine services, efficient banking systems, possibility of money transfer at international standards, friendly encounters with investors, convenient transport and telecom systems are all instrumental.