“Iran Plast exhibition is a very very important market for Austria due to a very very long relationship with Iranian companies and our company is very successful here in Iran and we are looking forward that it will be prolonged in that way,” Pitlik said in an exclusive interview on Friday.
Asked about the time of the exhibition, Pitlik said, “Principally, we always have the problem internationally on trade show scene....the problem would have been that if the Iran Plast show had been held in November as it was before, a lot of international companies would have not been able to attend the show here in Tehran so I think it was very important to change the date for the show in order the get the international companies to Iran. Principally it is always good not to have any shows in the region at a date when other shows are (being held), so the thing is that it was the best decision (to hold the exhibition this time) the national petroleum company has made. I was here last year and talked with Mr. Hadi Zonoozi Asl (the manager of the Iran Plast Exhibition) in order to change the date and in order to settle the Iran Plast show on the long term …. so I told Mr. Zonoozi to hold the show in the spring time, possibly in April, May or June …. so Iran Plast show will be held again in June in two years hopefully.”
In response to a question on the number of specialized visitors to the exhibition so far, he said, “Well as much as I can tell because I am not a producer of machinery, this is what I hear from the companies attending the show that all important manufacturers are coming. I think it is also the most important show for the Iranian …..manufacturers to come to the show…and here are the products displayed by the international and global exhibitors (and that is) very important.”
Asked about the importance of Iran Plast exhibition in comparison with the other exhibitions in the region, he stated, “Well there is only one comparison I can make within the region . in Iran there is a competitor show in Kish (island) I know .. nobody will ever go to Kish I mean it is too far away, there is no industry really in Kish I mean it is nice for making holydays but it is not ideal for making business. I think the Islamic Republic of Iran should invest in a new exhibition center here in Tehran maybe outside Tehran or somewhere … there is only one comparable show, which is quite important for the international exhibitors, which is in Dubai the Arab Plast show that will be held next year in January…the Persian Gulf states and the Arab countries had actually no rubber or plastic industry, they do but it is very minor. Iran has a growing industry and it is an important industry so that is why Iran Plast show, in my opinion, is very important …Arab Plast is good ….but there is no local industry, almost no local industry. The most important market in the Arab region is in Saudi Arabia, it is also a growing industry a very huge industry, but it is also a very isolated market.”
On Iran’s capacity in the plastic industry, he said, “As I said I think the Iranian plastic industry is one of the most important in the wider region….the Iranians, in my opinion, are from cultural and social aspects are totally different with all the other countries around and they are very close to the European mentality so that is a very big reason … this is something which keeps us together.”
On online registration for the exhibitors that want to attend the exhibition, he said, “I do not know I think from the organizational part a lot of things can be done….I would have to think about it I cannot say right now ….it is better to simplify the paper work, simplify the possibility of registration… I mean this is something I should make notes on that so I can send it to Mr. Zonoozi.”
Asked if he had any suggestions for better holding the Iran Plast exhibition, he said, “At the moment it is hard to say, the most important thing is that Iran Plast has to make efforts to reach everyone in Iran to come to the show specially the specialized people and limit the general public entrance, the exhibitors themselves do not need any public visitors, children or whoever who do not have anything to do with the business. If you can make this happen then it will get to a certain standard degree by the years …..the exhibitor s invest a lot of money to come here and they just want to have specialized visitors ….you have to have a very specialized show this is what you have to look at as an organizer.”
He also said it is better to assign an entrance fee to for the visitors but not too much. This way, only the specialized visitors will come to the show.
Asked if he is ready to support the people or organizations that hold Iran Plast exhibition, he said that he is absolutely ready to help at any time.