Lets Face It
 |
Seyfollah Ebrahimi,
Managing Director,
Saipa Auto Manufacturing Group |
Accession to the World Trade Organization is a must whose
requirements at the very least will upgrade a nations technology, management and
production. If Iran fails to meet these requirements, it will be dealt a serious blow. WTO
will challenge not only auto-making industry but other industries as well. Lower
industrial technology particularly in automotive industry, differences between Irans
national & small-scale mechanisms and those of other countries, as well as higher
prices are the driving forces behind the serious challenges we face.
In the first place, industry officials
should pinpoint the advantages and boost them. That should be followed by creation of new
advantages. In the second place, they have to find out how far behind we are on
international stage and draw up plans to make up for backwardness.
In Iran, auto-making industry holds many advantages over
fellow industries. If we go for updated technology and technical know-how that is,
revising the technical infrastructure of automobiles and automotives, and marking down the
prices through an economic overhaul and meet international quality standards, Iran
will be able to use its geopolitical position to forge successful partnership through
accession to international auto-making chains. Only then will Iran be able to capitalize
on exports of technical and engineering services, auto parts, machinery and locally or
jointly-manufactured cars. |