Around five to six million Iranians are living overseas, constituting 7% of the total population of the country.
Figures on their wealth are unreliable, as different sources release widely divergent numbers, Forsat-e Emrooz daily reported.
In March 2007, the Iranian Parliament Research Center, citing National Elites Foundation, put the capital assets of Iranian expatriates at over $1.3 trillion and those of Iranian-Americans alone at over $900 billion.
More than 6,500 companies and 10,000 university students were living in Dubai then and 1,400-odd Iranians have invested in Dubai Stock Exchange.
In January 2014, Alireza Rahmatnia, a deputy vice president, put Iranian investments abroad at around $700 billion, $200 billion of which were concentrated in the UAE alone.
In June 2015, Javad Qavam Shahidi, a senior official with the Iranian Expatiates Affairs High Council, mentioned an estimated $2 trillion as the wealth of foreign-based Iranians.
The interesting point is that this amount exceeded the country’s GDP in 2014 and that absorption of just 10% of this potential capital could work miracles for the country’s economy.
This is while the outflow of capital from the country is not unlikely. Rich Iranian investors are expected to put their money into buying real estates across the world.
Research by Rockstone Real Estate shows Iranian merchants and millionaires are highly likely to purchase real estate worth £6 billion within five to 10 years following the removal of nuclear sanctions.
London, Dubai, Switzerland, Germany and France are the odds-on favorite to become their destinations, the report reads.

Hungary's state-owned oil and gas group MOL has indicated preparedness to join oil projects in Iran by the adopting enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and improved oil recovery (IOR) techniques, a senior Iranian oil official said.

Following a meeting with MOL deputy chief executive officer, Berislav Gaso, in his Tehran office on Wednesday, Deputy Petroleum Minister in International Affairs and Trading Amir Hossein Zamani Nia said the company has over 70 years of experience in the field.

Zamani Nia who hosted the meeting with the Hungarian energy delegation, which was headed by Janos Kovacs, the Hungarian ambassador, said MOL is keen on establishing long-term partnership with Iranian energy companies.
“Presence and partnership in natural gas export projects in Iran and construction of gas pipelines were the main areas MOL has shown interest to work in Iran,” the official said.

Furthermore, purchase of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and partnership in refinery, liquefied natural gas (LNG) and NGL projects are other areas that MOL has indicated readiness to work in Iran, he added.
MOL is operating in oil and gas projects in 33 countries.

The company has also purchased a crude oil cargo from Iran which is being consumed by Hungarian refineries, said Zamani Nia.
Prior to the meeting, the Hungarian delegation met with Managing Director of the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) Ali Kardor.

World Business Year provides a gateway for high net worth individuals, sophisticated investors and business angel investors to access hundreds of exclusive seed and early stage funding opportunities posted from entrepreneurs and business owners seeking funding to take their business to the next level.

You can send e-mail  to access these investment proposals, and also to receive filtered investment deal flow based on your investment preferences.

New for 2016. World Business Year is now featuring Property Investment Opportunities posted from Property developers. Register as an investor if you are interested in investing in  Iran  Property Sector.

Using World Business Year, Investors can access:
 
•    Seed & early-stage investment opportunities
•    Seeking Funding for Expansion & growth capital
•    First & Second Round funding opportunities
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Imtiaz Developments, a prominent real estate developer known for its boutique and innovative projects, has appointed the National Engineering Bureau (NEB), a leading engineering firm with over 39 years of experience, for an upcoming residential community project in Dubai Land Residential Complex.   

Source:

https://www.constructionweekonline.com/

Sena Gbedemah, Delay and Project Governance expert for Ankura in Saudi Arabia, outlines how good project governance can help to avoid common pitfalls and ensure optimum project performance.

As the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia embarks on some of history’s most ambitious construction programmes, effective project governance is essential to success. Gigaprojects are so-called for a reason: everything is supersized, from the scale of the developments to the pace of delivery, not to mention the budgets.

However, the greater the ambition, the higher the stakes. With the world’s eyes watching, KSA must uphold its reputation as well as protect the $3 trillion it has dedicated to realising Vision 2030, its socio-economic restructuring plan.

Why projects fail
Ankura’s expertise in project governance and acting as delay and quantum experts in arbitration and litigation on capital projects has helped hundreds of clients turn around projects and resolve disputes.

This observation is confirmed by countless thought leadership articles, as well as the findings of enquiries following the failure of large public projects.

For example, the UK’s National Audit Office cited a lack of project governance, amongst other factors, for the failure of the c. $20.6 billion London Underground PPP contracts.

Governance defined
What do we mean by governance? Project governance has developed from the broader concepts of corporate governance. The Association of Project Management defines governance as: “The framework of authority and accountability that defines and controls the outputs, outcomes, and benefits from projects, programmes, and portfolios.”

Zooming in
We can split project governance into four areas:

1) Alignment of the project portfolio with the organisation’s profitability, customer service, reputation, and sustainability objectives. We have seen, for example, that NEOM has embedded its objective of creating a new model for sustainable living by specifying that it will be powered entirely by renewable sources.

2) Project sponsorship is the integration of project objectives with the organisation’s strategy. Project sponsors develop the business case and scope of the project, report progress and issues to the board and obtain authority and/or decisions.

3) Project management effectiveness, i.e. a team’s ability to deliver a project. This depends on having experienced and competent personnel and equipping them with the right resources, processes and management systems, such as planning, cost, risk management, and change control systems.

4) Reliable and timely disclosure and reporting by project management and the supply chain. With a regime of timely disclosure, the board will be able to make appropriate decisions, like authorising additional funds for changes and claims to the project.

Introducing giga-governance for gigaprojects in Saudi
The question for gigaprojects is not whether but how to embed the four elements of project governance throughout the organisation and the supply chain.

The good news is that there are plenty of frameworks for project governance. The Association for Project Management’s (APM) ‘guide to governance of project management’ is a good start.

The better news is that most available frameworks are scalable — the same factors apply no matter the project size. However, good project governance also requires resources, buy-in, and planning.

At Ankura, our project governance model is based on our experience advising and acting on disputes on some of the world’s largest capital projects.

It also draws from industry-recognised protocols and codes of practice on disputes and project management, including:

Association of Project Management Body of Knowledge
Society of Construction Law – Delay and Disruption Protocol
Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering – Forensic Scheduling Protocol
Publications by the UK’s Office of Government Commerce (OGC) – The OGC was responsible for improving value for money by driving up standards and capability in government procurement.
Rising demand
In KSA, Ankura has seen an uptick in demand for project governance auditing and other services. This shows that the construction sector realises the benefits of getting frameworks in place early.

We are also increasingly playing an active part in the governance process itself. For example, we are involved in reviewing, recommending and implementing (including training) processes from inception to delivery to help projects stay on track.

Other in-demand services include contract reviews, which help identify opportunities and risks at an early stage to maximise success and avoid disputes.

Meanwhile, our forecasting service is helping to drive project management effectiveness by providing independent schedule forecasts, simulations and capital cost projections for individual projects or entire portfolios.

A ticking clock
With ambitious projects come ambitious timelines. With seven years to go, effective project corporate governance is imperative for the successful delivery of the Vision 2030 gigaprojects.

With good project governance, KSA will not only set a global example by what it has achieved but will provide a good practice guide to the industry as a whole.

Sources:

https://www.constructionweekonline.com

If you are Interested in Raising Equity Capital For Your Company,Please fill out attached file and send to :

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Although investing in Iranian funds is broadly prohibited for US investors, for Europeans, it can be done—within limits—following the lifting on Jan. 16 of nuclear-related sanctions imposed on Iran by an international coalition.
And the strong showing of Iranian moderates in national elections last month may encourage further interest in the country.
Iran has a large, diversified economy and a stock market, and there are new funds that allow some global investors to put their money there, reads an article in The Wall Street Journal.
However, American individuals and entities are still prohibited from nearly all dealings with Iran, with limited exceptions such as the export of food and medicine to the country. That’s because of US sanctions still in place.
European investors have a much freer hand, but they need to be wary of some remaining European Union sanctions. In addition, even people who are not American citizens or living in the US are subject to certain remaining US sanctions—for example, prohibitions against dealings with designated Iranian individuals and entities.

  A New Fund
In anticipation of greater international interest in Iranian stocks, the Turquoise Variable Capital Investment Fund was launched in December. Jointly managed by Turquoise Partners, an Iranian financial group, and London-based Charlemagne Capital, the open-ended fund invests predominantly in Iranian stocks, and is aimed at all non-US investors.
It has about $55 million in assets and its holdings include some locally listed corporate bonds, but its long-term goal is to hold only equities.
“Most of the money in the fund was transferred from a similar fund that Turquoise Partners ran on its own for 10 years. There has not been enough time since the lifting of the nuclear-related sanctions for the fund to see significant inflows in reaction,” says Dominic Bokor-Ingram, Charlemagne Capital’s portfolio adviser for frontier markets.
Bokor-Ingram noted that Iran’s established stock exchange gives it an advantage over other frontier markets for investors.
“If you look at the biggest frontier, emerging-market opportunities right now that people quote—Cuba, Ethiopia, Myanmar—the difference in Iran is that you have a big, functioning stock market and a very big economy of approximately $400 billion,” he said.
  Iran’s Increasing Wealth
The portfolio adviser noted that the fund is seeking to tap into Iran’s consumer market, with sectors like banking, telecommunications, healthcare, housing and e-commerce prominent among its holdings—“anything that’s geared to that domestic economy and the increasing wealth of the population.”
Bokor-Ingram said there is “almost zero foreign investment” in Iranian stocks. But he says there has been an increase in expressions of interest in the new fund from potential investors and he expects investment in the fund to pick up in the coming months.
Turquoise Partners’ CEO Ramin Rabii said that over the past 18 months, he has hosted more than 150 delegations of foreign investors, ranging in size from two or three people and up to 30 or 40.
Most of these were from European countries, he said, though there were others from countries in the region such as Turkey and the UAE.
Turquoise also runs an exchange-traded fund, the Turquoise TSE 30 Iran Index ETF, which tracks the 30 largest companies on Tehran Stock Exchange. It is targeted at small, individual investors, Rabii says, and has seen interest from investors in the region, as well as some in East Asia and Russia. It has assets of about $3 million.
Rabii says Iran is similar to Turkey in a number of ways, such as population size, but that while foreign investors are major players in Turkish stocks, “in Iran it’s less than half a percent. That just shows you the potential of foreign investment that can come to Iran.”
But much has to change before Iran can reach that potential. For instance, Rabii notes, many Iranian companies publish their financial statements only in Persian.
Still, other funds are testing the waters, too.
London-based Sturgeon Capital, in a partnership with Iranian brokerage firm Mofid Securities, launched a hedge fund in December that invests in companies listed in Iran, though it could broaden its portfolio to include the shares of companies outside the country that do business there. It currently has less than $10 million in assets.
Sturgeon Capital’s CEO, Clemente Cappello, said he aims to target Iranian companies that have the potential to export to the company’s middle-income neighbors—such as Turkmenistan and Iraq—and highlights the glassmaking sector as having strong potential in this regard.
Cappello says he does not expect a rush of investment in the fund soon. And on a broader scale he expects many banks to remain cautious for the foreseeable future about handling the transfer of investors’ money into and out of Iran.
That point is echoed by Daniel Martin, a partner at Holman Fenwick Willan, a London law firm with a focus on international commerce.
“I think anyone who is looking to persuade a bank or financial institution to make a payment into Iran or receive payment out of Iran is finding it difficult at the moment to identify financial institutions that will support those transactions,” he said.
In a recent note, Renaissance Capital’s head of equity strategy, Daniel Salter, pointed to a number of challenges in the Iranian market, including a lack of updated economic statistics, and a trading week that runs from Saturday to Wednesday.

Saudi Arabia, a nation historically recognized for its oil wealth, is rapidly evolving into a hub for technological innovation and advanced healthcare. The Kingdom's Vision 2030 is not just a blueprint for the future; it's a testament to the nation's commitment to diversifying its economy and offering unparalleled opportunities to investors. Let's delve deeper into the sectors that are at the forefront of this transformation.

1. Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
a. Platform As A Service Solutions (PaaS)
PaaS solutions are reshaping the way businesses operate, offering scalable environments for developers to build, deploy, and manage applications. Saudi Arabia, with its robust digital infrastructure, is poised to become a leader in this domain.
b. System Development Consolidation
The Kingdom recognizes the need for consolidating various IT systems to enhance efficiency and reduce redundancy. This presents vast opportunities for ICT firms specializing in system consolidation.
c. System Integration and Development Solutions
As businesses grow, there's an increasing need for integrating various systems. Saudi Arabia offers a fertile ground for firms that provide system integration and bespoke development solutions.
d. Development of Enterprise Tailored Software
Customized software solutions tailored to specific enterprise needs are in high demand. The Kingdom's growing corporate sector is on the lookout for tailored ICT solutions that cater to their unique requirements.

2. Healthcare & Life Sciences
a. Long Term Care and Skilled Nursing Homes
With an ageing population, there's a rising demand for long-term care facilities and skilled nursing homes. This sector is ripe for investment, with the government also emphasizing quality healthcare for its citizens.
b. Rehabilitation Hospitals
Post-acute care, especially rehabilitation, is gaining prominence. The Kingdom is actively promoting the establishment of state-of-the-art rehabilitation hospitals.
c. Maternity and Children's Hospitals
Childcare and maternity are priority areas in Saudi's healthcare vision. There's a significant push towards establishing specialized hospitals catering to women and children.
d. Home Healthcare
The trend of providing healthcare services at home is growing. Saudi Arabia, with its focus on patient-centric care, is a promising market for home healthcare service providers.

3. Explore Opportunities in Saudi
The Kingdom is a land of unlimited opportunities. Whether you're an entrepreneur or an established business, Saudi Arabia offers a conducive environment for growth and success.

4. Set Up Your Regional Headquarters in Saudi Arabia
Considering expanding your business? Think Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom offers a plethora of benefits for businesses looking to set up their regional headquarters.

5. Business Support and Licensing
Setting up a business in Saudi Arabia is seamless. From understanding the investment landscape to acquiring the necessary licenses, the Kingdom provides all the support you need.

Partner with R Consultancy Group for Unparalleled Support
In the ever-evolving landscape of Saudi Arabia, navigating investment opportunities can be both exciting and challenging. While the potential is vast, having a trusted partner by your side can make all the difference.
R Consultancy Group stands as a beacon for investors looking to tap into the Saudi market. With our deep-rooted understanding of the Kingdom's sectors, regulatory environment, and business culture, we offer tailored solutions that align with your investment goals. Our team of experts is dedicated to ensuring that your venture in Saudi Arabia is not just successful but also sustainable.
Whether you're considering an initial exploration of the market or are ready to make a significant investment, R Consultancy Group is here to guide, support, and empower your decisions. Our commitment goes beyond business; we believe in building lasting relationships that contribute to the mutual growth of both our clients and the Kingdom.

Don't miss out on the exceptional growth opportunities in Saudi Arabia. Reach out to R Consultancy Group today and embark on a journey of unparalleled success in the heart of the Middle East.

Source:

https://rconsultancy.co.uk/

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Investor is interested in receiving business plan submissions from entrepreneurs in all fields that meet their investment criteria. Their investing sweet spot is between $10 million and $500 million, in a company that would welcome the active involvement of an experienced and well-connected investor. However, they will entertain larger proposals for more established companies.

While most of the businesses that members refer their review committee review to them, they accept submissions directly from entrepreneurs.

Because their screening committee is comprised of busy industry board members of several fortune 500 companies of and venture capital professional, in order to receive serious consideration an entrepreneur should provide a 10-15 page written submission (basically an expanded executive summary of a business plan and/or clear side deck) that demonstrates expertise within the company’s market and industry, as well as experience in general business matter, and should include information with respect to the following, where applicable:





Company background

•    Identify the management team and relevant experience
•    Organization chart, if necessary to understand the management structure
•    Numbers of employees
•    Office locations
•    Date Company was founded
•    Indentify board members and, If applicable, board of advisors

Market Opportunity

•    Market need
•    Total size market
•    Percent of market the Company will control
•    Growth rate
•    Company positioning

Technologies

•    How does it work?
•    Status of product development (Alpha, Beta, 1.0,…. )
•    Key milestones and expected completion/release dates
•    Dependency on external technologies; key vendor licenses
•    Patent portfolio

Competition

•    Who are your competitors? Collaborators?
•    What is the company’s competitive differentiator or unique advantages?
•    How sustainable are these advantages?




Customers

•    Total number of customers
•    Large customers, if any
•    Percentage of total sales these customers represent
•    Customers attrition; why do they leave?
•    Sales pipeline?

Financials

•    Projected financials and cash flow breakeven point, with related assumptions
•    Monthly burn rate: gross and net

Financing History

•    Amounts raised with dates; from whom?
•    Any special provisions, terms held by prior shareholders
•    Post-money valuation on last round, if any

Risk

•    Risks that are inherent to the specific business and not risks that are general business or investment risks

Proposed Financing

•    Total amount to be raised
•    Amount already committed from prior investors or new lead
•    Valuation expectations
•    Expected future financings

Use of Proceeds

•    i.e. Proceeds will be used to purchase equipment or used for working capital purposes.

World Business Year Investment &Consultancy pleased to inform that become Media partner with Innoverto to promote  Investment Immigration Summit MENA is the largest investment immigration conference in the region attracting 250+ attendees from 20+ countries.

World Business Year Talks withMarie-Louise Adlercreutz Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Innoverto to get more details of Event.

INNOVERTO is a training solutions and events management company that offers not just an avenue for knowledge and development, but also one for change. Whether you want to train yourself or your team, generate new business, entertain your team and your clients, at Innoverto you will find solutions that are informative, efficient and meticulously planned.

What is your purpose of your event?

The 4th Annual Investment Immigration Summit MENA (IIS MENA) on 25-27 February 2018 in Dubai, brings together leading government officials and immigration industry specialists to compare and explore new and emerging Opportunities for MENA's HNWI to invest and migrate through the world's top citizenship by investment programmes.  
This Summit is organized for experts focusing on the immigration market in the Middle East and North Africa, or agents or individuals wanting to learn more about the available international opportunities for citizen investment programmes.

Which companies will take part in your event?

There are many big companies take part in our event including
Focus Canada Immigration Inc, Control Risks, Investment Migration Council ,Carlyle Rogers Legal Consultants FZE (UAE) ,US Tax and Financial Services ,International Fiscal Services SOAS ,University of London, Azure Consultants DMCC ,E & S Consultancy Vanuatu Information Centre, Orbit Law, PLLC Maisto e Associate,

ANZ Migration, Azarmehr Law Group , Citizenship by Investment Unit, Saint Lucia (CIP Saint Lucia), Thomson Reuters Special Services , M/Advocates of Law



Why attend?
•    Gain hands-on practical skills for making successful applications: Take advantage of our interactive workshops, open discussion panels, industry lead round tables and extended Q and A.
•    Keep up to speed with industry developments to identify the most suitable programme to meet your clients requirements: Gain crucial insight into what to expect from each application process, from minimum investment and property development opportunities through to processing times and benefits.
•    Walk away with a 360 degree view of investment options: Identify regional possibilities for investment to help guide and inform your client’s application, with contributions on our geographically focused panels along with dedicated sessions delivered by seasoned industry specialists.



Who should attend?
IMMIGRATION AGENTS & HNWI
Whether you’re keeping up to speed with international developments for yourself or for a client, join us for the most comprehensive CI gathering that offers an unbiased analyses of the available options and the requirements differentiating each.
GOVERNMENTS
Are you a government looking to establish a citizen investment programme? Or, are you exploring ways to make your programme more attractive to investors?
PROJECT DEVELOPERS
Showcase your visa-approved investment opportunity, project or development in front of the world’s leading immigration professionals and representatives – all of which are seeking new partnership and business opportunities.



http://www.innoverto.com/register/investmentimmigration/

by:keith kohl

Countries already vying for business in Iran's wind sector.

Talk of investment in Iran more often than not is centered around its oil and gas sector—after all, the country has some of the highest reserves in the world, and is preparing to rejoin the market this year.

But did you know Iran is also planning some major steps into the renewable energy market too?

The Iranian government already has a project in the works: the 6th Development Plan lays the groundwork for installations of about 4,500 megawatts of wind energy and 500 megawatts of solar energy capacity.

Just last week, a 250 kilowatt solar panel project was brought online, and as much as 15 gigawatts of energy capacity installations are being considered by the Renewable Energy Organization of Iran.

The organization's Mostafa Rabie suggests, “Iran can supply over two-thirds of its energy through wind power. The long-term policy within the next decade... is to supply over 50% of required energy through... green technologies.”Iran Wind Power

He does note, however, that investment in the sector is absolutely necessary before any of these goals can be achieved.

To reach the required renewable capacity of 5000 megawatts, Rabie claims, will take $10 billion worth of investments. There are already more than 19 proposed projects that will cost $1.5 billion to move forward.

Luckily, Iran already has a few parties interested in its renewable sector...

Denmark is interested in exporting renewable technologies to Iran, especially wind power equipment. The country's Foreign Affairs Minister Kristian Jensen has said that such exports could grow by as much as $72 billion once sanctions on Iran are lifted.

This may include wind-turbine manufacturing plants from which Danish companies can build and market their products in and out of Iran.

India is another country ready to move into Iran's energy sector. The country's Suzlon Energy is a major global wind turbine supplier, and has expressed interest in building wind farms in Iran post-sanctions.

Such projects may in fact find competition from German companies also looking to build in Iran. German Siemens has already signed a deal to invest in Iran's railways, and intends to also supply the country with wind turbine equipment.

Iran has plenty of options when it comes to outside investments in its energy infrastructures, both fossil-fuel based and renewable.

Only time will tell how many of these projects are actually brought to fruition.

Director of Production Control in Iran's National Petrochemical Company (NPC) Alimohammad Bossaqzadeh said that there are Investment opportunities for foreign investor in petrochemical sector .


“Foreign investors have voiced readiness to back completion of petrochemical projects in Iran and related negotiations are taking place,” he added.
According to the NPC director, the Iranian government prefers to attract the foreign finance in form of investments and via making joint venture with Iranian partners.
The Islamic Republic drew up 30 new petrochemical projects to be implemented in the post-sanctions time, Marzieh Shahdaie, the managing director of NPC, said in an exclusive interview with the Tehran Times in January.
Questioned about the status of Iran’s petrochemical sector for the attraction of foreign investment in the post-sanctions time, Shahdaie answered that foreign companies mainly from Europe and East Asia are seeking to make investment in the implementation of Iranian petrochemical projects now that the sanctions are being removed against the country.
She mentioned Iran’s huge reserves of energy, its strategic location as well as domestic capabilities and expert manpower as the country’s advantages for the attraction of foreign investment.

Investment in Oman plays a major role in all developing economies; as it drives its dynamic basics of growth, development, and structural changes. Despite the prevailing economic, political and social circumstances at the Omani renaissance in 1970, the intensive programs on investment during the past four decades along with his majesty prudential guidelines have been able to transfer the modest oil revenues to a developed economic and social infrastructure, essential for leading sustainable development.

In fact, the Sultanate has the infrastructures that encourage and facilitate the national and foreign investment in Oman. Its geographical location that overlooks international and regional sea lanes along with the existence of Omani ports open new horizons for investment and free trading. Moreover, the Sultanate is characterized by its stable economy, strong infrastructure, and qualified human resources that guarantee the easiness of investment in Oman. Not to mention the regulations issued to support this open economic direction and to encourage foreign investments, which are gradually increasing by the Sultanate's engagement in international organizations, international trading organization, and free trading agreement with USA. Oman seeks attracting foreign investment through a number of incentives (Arabic only) such as:

• Competitive services' prices.
• Tax exemption for five years and it could be longer under certain conditions.
• No income tax for individuals.
• Freedom of transferring capitals and profits and freedom of exchanging foreign currency with fixed exchange rate.
• Full foreign property right: Property rate starts from 70% to 100% after obtaining the ministers' council consent.
• One Stop Shop service: It helps investors to get all the inquiries and transactions they need as soon as possible.
• Opening new office or representative office for foreign companies in Oman: Companies that run their businesses with the Government are allowed to open new offices or commercial representative offices in Oman.
• Various forms of business entities and its main advantages: Investors can form more than one legal entity in order to organize their business. Such entities are: public joint stock companies, public closed cooperation, limited liabilities companies, and holding companies. (For more information, follow the incentives link)

Within the framework of economic diversification based on exports, the Sultanate aims at the exploitation and industrialization of its natural resources; especially natural gas, and the increase of added value to those resources as the government had concentrated its efforts for marketing theses resources. The constant efforts resulted in signing agreements to establish some big industrial projects with the partnership of foreign capitals such as Polypropylene, Urea and Ammonia, Methanol, and Aluminum Smelter, Steel and Iron projects besides to other projects such as fertilizers project in Sur, and Qalhat Company for Natural Liquid Gas.

Investment Opportunities in Oman
Stressing on the importance of economy variation and magnifying the benefit of the strategic position of the Sultanate, besides to the consideration of the benefits gained by the foreign investment, the Government has adopted the idea of establishing some free zones in different parts of the Sultanate. These free zones are:

• Slalah Free Zone.
• Slalah Port.
• Sohar Industrial Port.
• Sohar Free Zone.
• Mazyona Free Zone.
• Masandam Free Zone.

You can find information in the portal on the Free Trading Zones or you can have a look at this document on the investment opportunities in Oman (Arabic only). These zones are considered to be great attractive zones, due to the completed infrastructures. Also, there are a lot of various opportunities in the field of infrastructures services projects, educational projects, oil, gas, health, tourism, and information technology.

In this regard, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry the Public Announcements service which helps to predict the trends and make strategic decisions improving the business environment for the good of Oman.

Exports and Imports in Oman
As one goal of the Sultanate first development plan states:" Working on finding a new national income that supports oil revenues and supersedes it in the future," the Sultanate deems it essential that it develops its non-oil exports and achieves the benefits expected from contacting the world through multi-national network by opening new markets for Omani products.

The Public Authority for Investment Promotion & Export Development is considered the main source of information about exports and imports in Oman. It pursues the Export Development Strategy (Arabic only) that will help to develop the non-oil exports in Oman. You can read more on the industrial exports in Oman through this paper that was presented at the Industrial Conference 2014 in Muscat.

Prizes
The Public Authority for Investment Promotion & Export Development got the UN trading and development conference prize (ONCTAD) as the Best Institution for Promoting Foreign Investment Directed to Exports in 2012.

Technical and economic benefits of distributed generation for the Ministry of Energy of Iran are obvious. Therefore, in order to decentralization of power generating units, improve network reliability and increase efficiency, "Development of distributed generation project" is planned. The policy of the project to increase power generation in distribution network is incentives facilities offering to private sector.  In this paper, the Ministry of Energy incentive policies are followed.
Among the various technologies of distributed generation, due to higher generation and reduce gas consumption, combined heat and power (CHP) have more appropriate economic indicators and the willingness of the private sector to invest in this project is more.
Therefore, we  present an overview of the investment opportunities, government incentives and expressing examples of combined heat and power(CHP) projects, to inform investors and to achieve purposes mentioned in this plan.


 

Description of investment and government incentive policies
Investment overview:
Installation Combined heat and power generation (internal combustion engines, generators and heat recovery facilities).





         Components of investment cost    
    installation initial cost
    maintenance costs
    Personnel / oil filter / lost revenue due to generation interruption
   









 Government incentive policies



 

 The advantage of investment and economic indicators
Most important advantages of investing in energy generation are Government support in providing free gas and guaranteed power purchase. The following components of income and investment cost of CHP generators have been described.
Incomes:
 Sale of electricity to the grid (or sale to domestic consumption)
Depending on the efficiency between 2.57 to 3.14 cent/kWh, Electric power generators purchased and the guaranteed purchase contract will be signed to 5 years. The invoice paid by Ministry of energy in less than 15 days.
Gross income for 1 MW generator: 20,000 US$/month.


Use of generator heat in production or in reduction fuel consumption:
The use of generator heat utilizes based on potential region. Usually the heat generators used in the following processes:
    Production of carbon dioxide from the generator smoke (200 kg/hour  for 1 MW generator-price 114.28 US$/ton)
    Production of distilled water
    Cold production in absorption chiller and injection into the fridge (300 ton of refrigeration per 1 MW generator)
    Heat and carbon dioxide production and injected into greenhouses to accelerate growth.
    Hot water production for swimming pools and domestic consumption (70 cubic meters/hour per 1 MW generator)

 Sale Emission Right:
According to the efficiency cogeneration generator, yearly 3000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions can be avoided per 1 MW installed capacity. According to Kyoto Protocol, the project as a friendly environment project registered, and based on Emission Right price in the global market (average price was  2 US$ in 2014, and Predicted be 5 to 10 US$ in 2015),is profitable up to 10 years.

Costs:
Initial costs:
    Generator and grid connection equipment: 600,000 US$/MW (Stock generator: 314,000 US$/MW and Used generator with guarantee: 200,000 $/MW)
+The costs of heat recovery equipment+ Recovery of costs of land acquisition/ lease +the project registration fee as environmentally-friendly.
Monthly costs:
    Fuel cost: 5,000 US$/MW (This cost is monthly statement and paid by TAVANIR, See the attached documentation)
    Oil and filter cost: 1,400 US$/MW
    Personnel costs (for the whole site): 3,000 US$ (This is not a separate cost for industrial sites)
Estimation of costs and revenues of the CHP system for each project according to characteristics and potential of the site is a free service of Distribution Generation Development Center.










Silencer units (reduction of noise up to 60 dB – equivalent to a car)




Summary table of costs and benefits of 1 MW generator installation:

Initial costs    Revenues
New generator    Stock generator    Used generator with 6-month guarantee    Power generation    Using of heat
600,000 US$    314,000 US$    200,000 US$    20,000 US$/month    Depending on the application of unit is variable
    Electric power generation revenue can be increased 50% by selling energy to commercial customers.
    With the increase in electricity tariffs in 1394, revenue will increase.

    period of return on investment (Month)
    With using heat of Generator    Without using heat of Generator
Using the new equipment    20    32
Using the Stock equipment    10    15
Using the Used equipment    6    10

For a Used 1 MW generator:

 






Investment Process
 


Conclusion and call for consultation
Niroo Research Institute to facilitate investment in the development of CHP generators provides all services to small-scale plants investors with the aim of increasing penetration of combined heat and power generators, increasing efficiency and peak shaving of the Network.
    Issuance Agreement, construction and operation permit, obtaining permits and certificates, contract of guaranteed electric power purchasing.
    Coordinate the activity of attract participation units in regional electric companies and electrical distribution companies.
    Condition assessment tests, performance testing and Maintenance Planning.
Free consultation services to investors in great Tehran:
    Feasibility consultation, technical-economic evaluation of projects, investment consulting.
    Finding the optimal place for generator installation and heat recovery.
    Introduction of qualified consultants and contractors to design and implementation of CHP units.

We as world business Year Investment and Finance Advisory has Mandate with GCC governments to structuring deal to construct 4 million units mass housing apartment .It is mentioned that it is humanitarian and exempted from any sanctions.

Sovereign guarantee and off-taker agreement will be provided by government and related ministry.

Please send us your proposal along with your contact details for cooperation.

1.Scope of work

The government plans to economically produce 4 million housing units in line with the commitment it has given to the people.

Also, there are many banks and government institutions that own government land and can provide the required land and the required permits, and instead entrust the design, construction and financing to insurance companies.

Government Concession:

Land and license

2.Government guarantees:

 Issuing Sovereign Guarantee by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Finance to guarantee the principal and profit of finance

 The guarantee of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development for the guaranteed purchase of one million housing units after construction

Amount of required capital or loan:

80 billion dollars

Construction cost per meter:

$250 per square meter

Desired units: 50 to 80 meters

Internal rate of return: 35%

Settlement methods for investors:

 Purchase of residential units by the government

 Buying residential units by people in cash

 Overselling residential units after 20% physical improvement

 Rental of residential units by buyers

Investment benefits:

Tax exemption for investors

Conditions of insurers:

 Having relevant experiences for mass housing construction in different countries

 Insurers, if they wish, can take over the insurance in the form of a syndicate with the cooperation of domestic and international insurers.

The construction company should provide a comprehensive solution that includes

● Design

● Build

● Finance

● and construction services to build property.

The construction company will be responsible for

● site preparation

● foundation work

● construction of the building shell

● and interior buildout

● all electrical, plumbing

● HVAC

● and fire protection systems.

Finally, the construction company should also provide

● landscaping and landscaping services, including paving, fencing, and any necessary retaining walls.

Please forward two copies of your completed proposal in PDF form, electronically to   This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Managing Director of Germany's Klifovet Pharmaceuticals Company Klaus Hellmann underlined that Iran is a suitable country with abundant capacities for foreign investment.
'Given Iran's advances and scientific capacities, Iran has good capacities for investment,' Hellmann said Friday on the sidelines of the Third International Pharmaceuticals Congress hosted by Shahr-e Kord.

He said that Iran has many capabilities and capacities for advancement and the papers that have been presented by Iranian researchers to this congress shows that the Iranian researchers are at a good scientific level.

'There are many people in Germany who are willing to be present in Iran and they have scientific exchanges with Iranian researchers; we expect that these exchanges to be prepared more than any time before,' Hellmann added.

He said that several joint ventures between Iran and German companies have taken place.

Iran's petrochemical industry will most likely have attracted  10 billion dollars in foreign investments by the end of the current Iranian calendar to March 20, 2018, a senior oil official said.
Amir Hossein Zamani Nia, Deputy petroleum minister in international affairs and trading, said to World Business Year  the fact that talks with several foreign investors are nearly complete, 10 billion dollars will be invested in petrochemical development projects by foreign financiers in Iran before the end of this calendar year.

He predicted that the current calendar year  will be a booming year for the petrochemical sector of Iran, adding negotiations with foreign developers are on the go in all sectors of the oil industry including the petrochemical sector.
A senior diplomat, Zamani Nia said the talks will, hopefully, lead to 50 to 80 billion dollars of investment in oil, gas and petrochemical projects in Iran.

"Petrochemical industry is a popular sector in which return on investment is guaranteed and security of investment is one of its major features," he said.

By Sarah Townsend

Despite the lifting of sanctions in January, many foreign companies remain so nervous about entering Iran that the country's leaders have asked the IMF to step in to reassure investors, proving that Iran has its work cut out if it is to be a significant player in the international economy


Last month, Iranian financial institutions gathered in Muscat to set out their case for the Gulf and beyond to invest in post-sanctions Iran.

The newly-opened country, they claimed, is among the most diversified economies in the Middle East and one of the most liquid. It also has the region’s largest Islamic finance sector, with an asset base worth $500bn, low corporation tax at 10 percent and relatively straightforward investment laws.

The only thing holding it back, they argued, was a dearth of foreign investment due to restrictive sanctions imposed by the US and the European Union (EU) for the past decade and more.

Now, following the lifting of sanctions in January, Iran is “open for business”, allegedly capable of attracting billions of dollars of trade and investment and rewarding pioneering global partners with substantial returns.

In an interview with Arabian Business during the Muscat event, Tehran Stock Exchange CEO and president Hassan Ghalibaf Asl says: “Iran has good potential for growth but sanctions deprived it of this growth. They overheated the market and dampened foreign investment.

“Still, under sanctions, the capital market performed reasonably well. We had monthly initial public offerings (IPOs) and were trading around $25bn every year, generating significant volumes. However, most of our investors are local. We do not yet benefit from considerable and material investment from foreign investors.

“The ratio of market cap to GDP in Iran is 25-30 percent and the average in the world is 100 percent, which shows the opportunity for growth.

“I believe with the lifting of sanctions the atmosphere will change and foreign investors will come in. I think what will be possible then.”

According to Central Bank of Iran governor Valiollah Seif, the removal of sanctions could trigger at least $50bn a year in foreign investment. He told Bloomberg in January that GDP growth could accelerate to between 5 and 6 percent, from 3 percent, in the year to March 2017. Seif was also adamant that Iranian banks would reconnect to the world within days of sanctions being lifted following years of isolation.

There have been indications that foreign companies are starting to enter Iran. For example, it was reported last week that Meliá Hotels International had signed to open its first hotel there, the five-star Gran Meliá Ghoo Hotel. UAE payments firm Network International has said it is in talks with Iranian banks to process transactions in Iran, while Oman’s Port of Salalah has reportedly signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Iranian ports to facilitate trade growth, and Bank Muscat aims to open an office in Tehran.

Ghalibal Asl claims he saw interest among foreign investors rise tenfold in the 10 days after sanctions were lifted, while the ‘Big Four’ accountancy and professional services firms have said they are taking steps to set up operations in Iran to support clients eager to work there.

However, experts say foreign business activity has remained largely subdued. Many argue that bureaucracy and residual political stigmas will make companies nervous about doing business in Iran.

One real estate professional who wishes to remain anonymous says that even expat Iranians living elsewhere in the Middle East are reluctant to do business with Iran at present, citing lack of transparency.

Within the country, confidence is waning. Last week, state news agency IRNA reported that Iran’s leaders had complained that European banks were wary of resuming business in the country and had asked the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to step in and allay prospective investors’ fears. IRNA quoted Hamid Tehranfar, vice-governor of the central bank, as saying: “There is still ‘Iranophobia’ in the banking sector that we’re trying to overcome.

“We have asked the IMF to review our [banking sector] regulations so other countries’ banks feel reassured. The IMF will announce its assessment in 2018.”

On the surface, the case for investing in post-sanctions Iran is compelling. It is the second largest economy in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region after Saudi Arabia, with an estimated GDP of $406.3bn, according to the World Bank. It also has the second largest population of the region after Egypt, with an estimated 78.5 million people in 2014. Iran is home to some of the world’s largest fossil fuel reserves, with oil production constituting 23 percent of the country’s wealth.

While government expenditure still depends to a large extent on oil revenues and therefore remains vulnerable, Iran is a more diversified economy than some of its neighbours. For example, services (professional, specialised, real estate and hospitality in particular) account for 51 percent of GDP, while manufacturing and mining makes up 13 percent, according to Trade Economics.

Meanwhile, the World Bank’s outlook for Iran is positive. The bank’s country update from September 2015 stated: “If all sanctions are lifted by March-June 2016, and reforms to the business environment are made to promote competition and reduce the influence of state-owned enterprises in the economy, real GDP should rise to 5.8 percent and 6.7 percent in 2016 and 2017 respectively, as oil production reaches 3.6 and 4.2 million barrels per day.”

However, despite this forecast, businesses and commentators remain wary, with some claiming it will be at least a year before global banks and multinational corporations dip their toes in the water.

“The media gave the impression that as a result of the agreement with Iran, the doors were wide open and it was back to business as usual,” says Nicholas Coward, attorney at law firm Baker & McKenzie.

“There was an assumption that a sort of nirvana had arrived, but it has not. While numerous sanctions have been lifted and there are opportunities as a result, other sanctions remain in place.

“The two words that best characterise the current situation are ‘balance’ and ‘caution’. Balance in terms of the government approach to maintaining remaining sanctions and balance from companies in terms of their cognisance of the things they can and cannot do, and how to police that internally.

“We don’t know any major international bank that has said they want to enter Iran and we anticipate it will be at least a year before this happens. Some may wait to see if their competitors do it first, while others may stay out of the market altogether deeming the risks to be too great.”

As Coward notes, not all of the restrictions have been lifted and companies are worried about breaching those that remain in place. In January, the US and EU lifted most sanctions on Iran in return for curbs on its nuclear programme. Under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the EU de-listed over 400 blackmarked Iranian people and entities, allowing them to do business with the EU. Certain entities and individuals, including several Iranian banks, remain blacklisted.

However, most of the remaining restrictions relate to a larger number of continuing US sanctions. Although the US has lifted the sanctions that in effect prevented international banks from facilitating Iran-related transactions, those sanctions were generally only directed towards non-US citizens conducting business that occurs entirely outside of US jurisdiction and does not involve US citizens.

The remaining sanctions still prohibit involvement of US citizens, US-originating products and supplies exported or re-exported to Iran, and most transactions conducted in US dollars, largely ruling out US banks from doing business with Iran. The sanctions also penalise those who do business with companies connected to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard (IRGC), whcih is accused of having opaque business interests, according to the Financial Times, because the US still considers Iran to be supporting “terrorism”.

It is a much reduced list of sanctions, says Baker & McKenzie partner Jasper Helder, but one that could still cause headaches for prospective investors.

“It is incredibly complex and businesses must do extensive due diligence,” he says. “That is why there was an initial high enthusiasm for opportunities in Iran (and there are real opportunities, in particular for Gulf countries that have historic trading ties and physical proximity).

“But there are cautionary notes too. While Gulf investors themselves are not subject to any of the remaining US or EU sanctions, they must be mindful about whether or not they have US or European stakeholders, use products or services that they have acquired in those markets, or have US citizens anywhere in the supply chain.

“They must also check thoroughly with their banks whether they are willing to support commercial activity in Iran.”

Meanwhile, there are inherent issues with the regulatory landscape that can make doing business in Iran challenging, Helder claims. “It is a more bureaucratic country [than others in the Gulf], with lots of government agencies involved in policing the market. It is certainly not a market you could breeze into.”

Helder says many of his clients also report difficulties in establishing exactly with who they would be doing business. “There are no systematic company records that allow you to check things like ownership structures, so relationships between companies and individuals are not always clear.”

News last week that billionaire Iranian businessman Babak Zanjani has been sentenced to death for corruption for withholding billions in oil revenues channelled through his companies is unlikely to help improve public perceptions.

Another concern is the “snap-back” provisions contained in the JCPOA. The EU and US have reserved the right to re-impose sanctions in the event that Iran is found to have violated its obligations under the agreement. “Investors would want to make sure that they protect themselves and their contract terms – crucially, payments – by having a well-considered exit strategy that does not rely upon conventional force majeure clauses, as those are typically triggered by unforeseen events and you could argue that a snap-back would not be covered,” Coward says.

Ahmad Azizi, senior advisor to the central bank governor, told the Muscat conference: “While there are negative foreign perceptions of [doing business in] Iran, prospective investors must remember that Iran is a large, local market and one of the most diversified economies in the Middle East. Last year it exported every single category of goods as defined by the IMF – a rare attribute in the region.

“Those concerned over the implications of the snap-back provisions contained in the deal should be reassured that the country worked hard to negotiate with the US and would not throw away its investment overnight.”

Dr Moshkan Mashkour, a lawyer and director of the Tehran Regional Arbitration Centre, adds: “Snap-back is unlikely to happen because on both sides the ramifications are great and there is political will [for the agreement to work].

“If any concerns are raised that there has been a serious breach of terms, there would be serious and lengthy discussions, which, if not resolved, would be passed to authorities, which would then seek to resolve the issue. So snap-back would not happen overnight.”

He claims that, for example, if a European contractor had been appointed to build 250 kilometres of roads in Iran and snap-back was imposed while there were still 50km left to build, the investment would likely be legally protected under contract and the roads would continue to be built.

Meanwhile, Iranian leaders and financial institutions claim to be working hard to increase trust among foreigners. IRNA quoted Iran’s deputy foreign minister, Majid Takhteravanchi, as saying this month: “There is no legal obstacle in the way of expansion of Iran-Europe relations”. He said the Iranian central bank was implementing new rules against money laundering and terrorism funding to facilitate ties with European banks.

Central bank governor Seif added: “Transparency is the prerequisite of international transactions. Iran has taken primary steps to make the financial information of Iranian banks as transparent as possible.”

Ghalibaf Asl from the Tehran Stock Exchange says the bourse is in the “late stages” of compiling a new index ranking companies according to their transparency and governance structures – a rare move for a stock exchange and one intended to boost confidence in Iranian capital markets.

Other financial experts working in Iran note the attractive 0.5 percent tax rate on transfer of shares in Iranian stock exchanges, and tax exemption on interest received from fixed-income instruments and dividends received.

Still, this does not cancel out some risks, including the potential impact of volatile regional politics. There are issues related to Iran’s involvement in Syria, which many argue is a major source of the refugee problem in Europe, so from a European perspective this connection is politically very significant and could deter some European companies from working with Iran.

“The sanctions agreement alone is not some panacea,” Coward says. “It was a calculated effort to accomplish something in the nuclear arena, which was achieved, but it does not erase the other political challenges that exist in the region.”

Iran’s 2025 strategic economic plan aimed at doubling the economy from the current $415bn in the next decade requires investments totalling $1.5tr, according to a report by Frost & Sullivan this month.

This is a colossal amount of money, so Iran must freshen up its business environment and public image to attract those companies whose hands are not still tied by prohibitive sanctions – or risk losing out.
2013 Arabian Business Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.