Iran’s Trade Promotion Organization (TPO) has reported a significant leap in trade diplomacy over the past two years, driven by an aggressive expansion of its commercial attaché network and a structural overhaul of overseas trade centers.
According to Abdolamir Rabihavi, director general of the TPO’s West Asia Office, Expo 2024 marked a turning point, with record-breaking participation from foreign delegations. The concurrent Africa Summit drew 700 high-ranking officials and ministers from the continent—an unprecedented figure in Iran’s export history—who conducted factory visits in Isfahan, laying groundwork for long-term partnerships.
Regional outreach has also intensified. Rabihavi highlighted active exchanges with Turkey, Iraq, the UAE, Oman, and Kuwait, alongside a dedicated Fars Province Expo targeting Persian Gulf markets and Iraq.
On the infrastructure front, the TPO has opened new trade centers in previously unserved markets and expanded existing posts—from one to multiple offices per country—to maximize exporter support. The commercial attaché presence in Iraq has been extended from Baghdad to Erbil and southern regions, while a new post in Ankara is under way.
Strategically, the organization has drafted bilateral "trade roadmaps" with Iraq and Turkey, now under review by partner governments. Parallel efforts are pushing forward on bilateral trade agreements aimed at stabilizing and facilitating future commerce.
The moves signal a systematic shift toward deeper economic engagement with both neighboring and African markets, as Iran seeks to diversify export destinations and secure long-term commercial footholds abroad.
