The first specialized exhibition of Oman was held on September 25 for four days at Tehran International Permanent Fairground.
Specialized Exhibition Sultanate of Oman in an area of about 1500 square meters was held in the presence of 64 different Omani companies in distinct commodity groups including crafts, petrochemical, plastics, medical instruments and equipment, electrical and electronics, agriculture, furniture, cosmetics.
“Alferdows” company from printing and packaging field was present at the exhibition that we had an exclusive interview with the sales manager of the company about the quality and conditions of their participation in the exhibition.
First, introduce yourself and explain about your complex and the type of your activities:
My name is Ramezan Salim and I am the sales manager of Alferdows Printing and Packaging complex. Our company was founded in 1982. About our activities in the company, I can mention printing and packaging of medicines, boxes of paper napkins, tea and published magazines and textbooks.
Our company has two branches; the central branch is located in Muscat and the other one has got place in Sohar. Currently our company provides 20% of the printing and packaging market of Oman. It should be noted that since our company provides textbooks of Oman it is funded every year for about 800 thousand Rials equivalent to one million and five hundred thousand dollars by the Ministry of Education.
This is important to point out that all our devices are German and capable of printing 15,000 sheets per hour.
Is it the first time you participate in this exhibition and have you been satisfied of attending here?
Yes, it is the first time of our participation in this exhibition. Given the number of visitors, the exhibition was very good. However, our presence in this exhibition has not leaded to any contracts until now; we hope that this presence will be a help in the near future so that we can have cooperation with Iranian companies.
How do you assess the printing and packaging situation of Iran?
We are trying to get information about the printing and packaging system in Iran and since it has been our first travel to Iran, we have not been successful yet, but as far as we know, the printing devices that are used in Iran are Chinese.
Have you entered to export field? At this moment, which countries are you cooperating with in this field?
Yes. One of our interests is having cooperation with Iran. Now, we export to Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Tanzania. Of course, we cooperate with Iraq that unfortunately it has stopped.
How is the situation of Printing and Packaging in Oman now?
30 years ago our printing and packaging was financed by countries like Qatar. In fact, we can say at that time did not have any equipment in the field. But from when the government pioneered to open the way for private sectors’ activities in this field by the order of Sultan (Sultan of Oman), the printing and packaging area and entrance of modern and up to date equipment expanded.
Now, not only we are self-sufficient in the field of printing, packaging and publishing, but also we supply countries like UAE. Now with regard to the quality of printing and packaging of the country, companies import most of their goods in bulk and packed them inside the country.
Do you have a plan for further development of this industry in your country?
Certainly we have a plan in this field. One of the programs is expanding the export part of the company and participating in specialized exhibitions around the world, including Germany, to become familiar with the technologies in the world. In fact, our presence in Iran has been a part of this program.