An Interview with Mohammad Berami Managing Director of Siraf Energy
Mohammad Berami started his petrochemical career with the Iranian National petrochemical company in 1973. During his 43-year tenure in the petrochemical industry, he assumed different responsibilities in Iranian as well as other reputed international companies. He served as the Managing Director and Board Member as well as Design and Maintenance Engineer for the Razi, Mobin, Zagros, Shiraz, Siraf and Tabriz petrochemical companies. He also held many respectable positions at several other petrochemical complexes in Iran. He holds a degree in electrical engineering from Shiraz University and completed his Master degree in Instruments Engineers from the University of Huddersfield Polytechnic in UK . World Business Year talks to Mohammad Berami, the industry expert with more than 43 years of experience in the petrochemical sector, on investment opportunities and potential challenges for foreign investors in Iran.
What is your assessment of the investment opportunities in the petrochemical sector in Iran?
After the lifting of sanctions against the country, many international companies flocked to Iran with the purpose of assessing the potential investment opportunities in the country. There are many investment opportunities in Iran, but it is the foreign investors who should have the courage to initiate the work. Often, many investors avoid facing the challenges and risks associated with investment in Iran. The Basf Company has had a meeting with the Iranian petrochemical company for investment in Assaluyeh.
Any company that has success stories in petrochemical investment?
The Razi Petrochemicals is one of the success stories for investment in the petrochemical sector. As matter of fact our expectation is very high. We expected that giant petrochemical companies will come to Iran for investment in new projects. Due to the privatization of the state-owned companies, the investment situation in the petrochemical industry has substantially changed. Earlier, the Iranian petrochemical companies had to sell their products to the Ministry of Agriculture. But now everything has been changed with privatization in favor of private sector. The petrochemical complexes can sell and export their products to domestic and international market. What makes Iran a different destination for investment compared to the other countries? There are many advantages of investing in Iran, including highly competitive prices for gas-based raw materials, rich ethane content in the country’s gas reserves, easy access to the ocean for export is main advantage, presence of highly constructing service engineering companies, cheap labor force and access to growing international market are big drivers for investors to invest in Iran.
What challenges do you think investor face with in Iran?
There is a bureaucratic red tape in Iran’s administration, but Investors should be patient because the government supports creating jobs. Investor should consider investing in other sectors like accommodations, hotels construction, health centers in Energy zones which can bring economic development . There are a few hotels but they are not sufficient and need more investment in Hotel and accommodation sector .
What is your message to International Investment community?
Having 43 years of experience in petrochemical industry, has created in-depth knowledge for me on Iran’s petrochemical sector. I can assure them that there are many people like me who are willing to share their knowledge and experience. We are even ready to tackle obstacle and challenges to pave the way for their investment with peace of mind.
World Business and Economic Analysis 
