Meeting between the Iran International Exhibitions Association and the Iran Chamber of Commerce

Conducted in a cordial and constructive atmosphere, the meeting was attended by Samad Hasanzadeh, President of ICCIMA, and Seyyed Javad Zamani, Deputy for Provincial Affairs and Associations, alongside the President, Secretary-General, and Board Members of the IIEA. Discussions centered on strategies to expand mutual cooperation between the Chamber and the Association, as well as on following up resolutions and issues related to the growth of Iran’s exhibition industry.  

At the start of the session, Rahim Jalili, President of the Iran International Exhibitions Association, expressed his gratitude for the Chamber’s hospitality and delivered a detailed report on the current state of Iran’s exhibition industry, its potential and existing capacities, and the Association’s achievements over the past 18 months.  

Highlighting the strategic role of exhibitions in boosting non-oil exports, creating jobs, fostering economic exchanges, and promoting national production, Jalili stressed that organizing export capability exhibitions, commonly known as expos, is a unique solution for opening foreign markets to Iranian producers. This year, under the Association’s planning, several provincial centers—including Khuzestan, Urmia, Fars, Kermanshah, Mashhad, and Zanjan—have either hosted or are currently hosting such expos. He added that the Exhibition Branding Plan, based on regional development mapping, is another key initiative aimed at leveraging existing resources and strengthening the inherent capacities of different regions. Under this plan, branded exhibitions in various provincial centers are being held with a fresh approach compared to previous years. Examples include Bushehr Dates Expo, Khuzestan Oil Exhibition, Isfahan Carpet Fair, Fars Tourism Exhibition, and Tabriz Leather Show. Nearly every exhibition center across the country has been assigned a specific brand theme, and centers are encouraged to support one another’s branded events for greater synergy.  

Jalili went on to outline the Association’s structure and mission as one of ICCIMA’s major affiliated organizations, and reviewed key activities completed over the past 18 months. These include:  

- Organizing and ranking exhibition centers and operators nationwide  

- Establishing the Association’s central office at the Tehran Permanent Fairground  

- Activating the Comprehensive Iranian Exhibition Industry Company (SANJA)  

- Securing operating licenses for all exhibition sites (none had licenses before this initiative)  

- Hosting training workshops for all mid-level managers of provincial companies, covering public relations, finance, administration, and operations  

- Holding the Association’s general assembly meetings regularly at the Iran Chamber of Commerce  

The IIEA President emphasized that, alongside these achievements, a revision of the government’s approach to the exhibition sector is essential. As in most countries where all event regulations and permits are issued by the national chamber of commerce, the Iran Chamber of Commerce—as the parliament of the private sector—should take an active role in ending fragmented governance by multiple authorities, eliminating redundancies, and removing obstacles to the industry’s advancement.  

He concluded by affirming the Association’s readiness, as a key ICCIMA organization, to implement the Chamber’s exhibition-related programs and help achieve its institutional goals through the exhibition platform.  

Sammad Hasanzadeh, President of the Iran Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the report and expressed satisfaction with the Association’s coordinated and purposeful work. He underscored the need for greater private-sector involvement in managing the exhibition industry and agreed to the Association’s request for dedicated funding to expand its activities.  

Other IIEA Board Members shared their views on transferring exhibition authority from the government to the private sector, strengthening provincial coordination with local chambers, and establishing a unified national exhibition system.  

The meeting concluded with both sides reaffirming their commitment to continued cooperation in enhancing exhibition infrastructure, advancing economic diplomacy, and supporting specialized professional associations across the country.