My Advice:
Just Keep Going!

Matt Paason is the Licensing Manager of Stamicarbon B.V. Having majored in chemical engineering, Paason took business management courses to work with DSM and its subsidiary, Stamicarbon. During a short break at the forum venue, he talked to Iran International about his company and its activities in Iran and what it hopes to achieve in the future petrochemical business.

Joint Venture Prospects: DSM is a chemical and petrochemical company based in the Netherlands and Stamicarbon is DSM’s licensing subsidiary. Stamicarbon is mainly licensing urea technology. Presently, we are having discussions with the NPC on a joint venture project for low-density polyethylene. The company has a number of parties in Iran with whom we are discussing the urea technology. The latest project being discussed is the Assaluyeh.

Potential Partnership: We do not have a local partner yet as we are establishing this joint venture with NPC and we have to see how we take it from there. But should we opt for partnership, we would expect from our partners what they expect from us: confidence, trust, efficient and long-term relationship, and working toward a mutual benefit and not just a one-sided interest. We prefer a mutual benefit which is based on mutual respect for each other.

Ideal Position: I believe Iran is in a very unique position because of the abundance of feedstock on which it can build the whole industry. Secondly, it is in a unique position in that it is strategically located not only for the regional but also for the global market. The regional market is very important, I believe, especially with the huge market potential offered by such neighboring countries as Pakistan and India.

Regional Cooperation: Generally, in the petrochemical industry there should be more cooperation specially in the present situation that huge investments are being made in this industry. If you invest in a large complex, it will mean that the market will need some time to absorb that volume of investment. The more cooperation there is in planning the investment and making it smooth in line with the market growth, the more beneficial and helpful it will be. Large-scale investment without proper market development would surely fail becasue potential capacities overtake market development.

Iran’s Initiative: IPF is an excellent gathering. I was very impressed by the number of participants, the quality of speeches, and the way the event was organized. The only thing that needs to be improved is giving the speakers more time for their presentations. For the next IPF, I would just say ‘keep on going’. This is the right direction. I think with more publicity there will even be a larger attendance next year, because there is a huge interest in investing in Iran and learning about its development, particularly with respect to the petrochemical industry in which Iran has many competitive advantages. Many countries around the world are eyeing this industry with the hope of securing a share of the business for themselves or becoming a partner.