Roundtable Discussion; The Future of Mineral Sands. Watch the video here.
“We are determined to continue pursuing efforts to enable the continuation of legitimate trade with Iran, including through the operationalisation of the special purpose vehicle "INSTEX".” https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/62093/joint-statement-high-representative-european-union-and-foreign-ministers-france-germany-and_en Looks like the Russians are piling on the pressure “As far as I understand, it [INSTEX] is much less effective than it was planned, much less comprehensive.” http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13980218000919 On the other hand “Iran’s special financial channel for trade with European countries under the US sanctions known as SATMA, and its European counterpart INSTEX are ready to do their first transaction in coordination with banks of the two sides.” https://ifpnews.com/exclusive/irans-satma-eus-instex-to-do-first-transaction-soon/
Interview with BICC’s Paul Wilson on Instex; British Iranian trade and risks etc https://twitter.com/PequodAdvisors/status/1126434724669468673
https://twitter.com/UKinIran/status/1126360257071124486? to help better relations?
All ready https://twitter.com/aviationirancom/status/1126402005495365633? now i guess depends if the contract is ready to progress......
INSTEX ready to conduct first transaction with Iran Tehran, April 30, IRNA – Director of the Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges (INSTEX) Per Fischer on Monday voiced the company’s readiness for undertaking first transaction with Iran at the earliest. http://www.irna.ir/en/News/83296957/
https://iran.timesofnews.com/british-officials-introduce-instex-to-uk-businessmen.html INSTEX has been registered at the address of France’s Economy and Finance Ministry in Paris. German banker Per Fischer has been chosen for a period of six months to run it. Also, a senior UK diplomat is expected to head the Supervisory Board. During the meeting which was organized by Department for International Trade and Iran-UK chamber of commerce, British officials held talks on the way to facilitate the economic interactions between two sides. Meanwhile, Iran Ambassador to the UK Hamid Baeidinejad said Fischer had announced that despite existing challenges, INSTEX is seriously after maintaining its first trade exchange with Iran very quickly.
Looks like they were in town yesterday “Per Fischer, President of INSTEX, briefing a packed crowd of UK businesses in London today. Interest in the instrument is strong, and all efforts being made towards starting operations” https://twitter.com/HMATehran/status/1122929149147004929
I guess am speculating but Dar Es Salam airport should be “ready” for handover to the government next month https://mobile.mwananchi.co.tz/Habari/Terminal-III-JNIA-sasa-kukabidhiwa-Mei/1597580-5083816-format-xhtml-nc36jv/index.html (reported in Swahili so use translator for the English version). Wonder if this is the African contract following https://www.wsg-corporate.com/news/westminster-chairman-lt-col-sir-malcolm-ross-and-ceo-peter-fowler-meet-with-his-excellency-dr-jakaya-mrisho-kikwete-president-of-tanzania/ - although Tz has a new President who seems to have a very different approach to doing business - time will tell I guess?
Thanks Mike Latest from the ambassador seems to imply they are looking elsewhere for a start to INSTEX rather than just the 3 European countries who have been deemed to be “dragging their feet”? https://theiranproject.com/blog/2019/04/20/iran-eyeing-major-trade-deals-to-boost-trade-ties/ He certainly hasn’t been tweeting with enthusiasm as he was last year on the Iran-UK business relationship? https://iranintl.com/en/world/iran-seminar-london-media-didn%E2%80%99t-cover Will the wait be longer perhaps until Trump gets voted out of office?
IRIB TV1's report on Tehran-IKAC's Salam terminal project, broadcasted a few hours ago https://vimeo.com/331263949 it’s in Persian so haven’t a clue what’s being said. On a separate note Turkey joins the INSTEX party http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13980129000541 WSG will need to pull their socks up and give us an update now!! Any news on the Per Fischer visit?
The Netherlands Ambassador to Iran Jacques Werner said the European Union is a still a partner for Iran nuclear deal and is following up the Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges (INSTEX) to continue financial transactions. Speaking to IRNA, Werner said despite new sanctions against Iran and the US withdrawal from Iran Deal also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Europe is still complying with its commitments. He expressed hope for maintaining joint cooperation with Iran since he believes that the Netherlands is a potential country in the field of agricultural and food products. Elsewhere in his remarks, Werner vowed to facilitate relations between Iran and Dutch companies. INSTEX was adopted by foreign ministers of the European trio on the sidelines of a European Union summit in the Romanian capital Bucharest on January 1. INSTEX has been registered at the address of France's Economy and Finance Ministry in Paris. German banker Per Fischer has been chosen for a period of six months to run it. Also, a senior UK diplomat is expected to head the Supervisory Board. Earlier, INSTEX president Per Fischer visited Iran to hold talks with Iranian stakeholders in a bid to work out details of the payment channel. http://www.iranoilgas.com/news/details?id=20224
Iran has announced to the European Union the establishment of a corresponding institution to the Instrument for Supporting Trade Exchanges (INSTEX), Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Sunday in a meeting with Vito Rosario Petrocelli, president of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Italian Senate. https://iran.timesofnews.com/iran-has-notified-eu-on-creation-of-similar-mechanism-to-instex-zarif.html
Wonder if WSG has tendered for this? https://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/lebanon/59031/icmpd-launches-two-calls-tender-under-eu-funded-project-reinforcing-aviation-security-rafic_en
Picture of Salam Terminal posted on Twitter tonight “Tehran-IKA's new Salam terminal as seen from a distance” feels as distant as the WSG contract or will we be proved wrong? https://twitter.com/aviationirancom/status/1111022678364835840
Apologies if this has been shared. Suggests testing done - inauguration to take place soon - but the airport will only be operational in the spring? Hence still some time before we get any final confirmations? “Iran is to inaugurate a new terminal at the Imam Khomeini International Airport in the new Iranian year (starts on March 21,2019). The Minister of Road Development and Urban Planning Mohammad Eslami has visited the early testing of Salam Terminal at the Imam Khomeini airport on Saturday while inaugurating the second test for the Iran Air company, Trend reports citing Fars News Agency. "Salam Terminal has been tested and it would be inaugurated in the upcoming 40 days," he said. The official noted that Salam Terminal has the capacity of 5 million passengers per year that would operate for experiment in the spring.” https://www.aviationpros.com/airports/news/21068803/iran-to-inaugurate-new-terminal-at-imam-khomeini-airport
Thoughts on any links with WSG? “The UK and Kenya are working together to support a safer, more prosperous future for both countries. During the British Prime Minister’s visit last August, we signed a renewed #security compact and committed to continuing to build our security partnership” https://twitter.com/ukinkenya/status/1104005583332696064
https://twitter.com/UKinIran/status/1103331028108787714 Second day of meetings with #OIETAI and #Tehran Chamber of Commerce to discuss implementation of INSTEX and to promote trade and export between the UK and #Iran
https://twitter.com/ukiniran/status/1102851173827178496 British embassy tweet “Pleased to have @SimonPenneyHMTC with us here in Iran, to reaffirm the UK’s commitment to expanding and supporting UK-Iran trade. @tradegovukMENA”