Horn
16th October 2015, 10:21 PM
The prospect of oil giant Iran opening up for business in the coming months might not on the face of it seem like good news for Scotland's oil capital, Aberdeen, but that's not how the Scottish National Party's Alex Salmond sees things.
"This is not just a good opportunity," he told an audience at a BBC debate on the fringe of the SNP conference in Aberdeen.
"It's an unambiguously a great one. Scotland has much to offer. Benefits can flow both directions."
Iran struck a deal in July over its disputed nuclear programme.
Under the terms of the agreement, once Iran delivers on its commitments the European Union and the US will end sanctions on Iran's trade, financial and energy sectors. It is expected that this will happen sometime early next year.
Within months Iran will be producing about 500,000 barrels of oil a day, and $100bn (£65bn) of Iranian government funds, currently frozen in overseas bank accounts, will be freed up to spend in key sectors such as petrochemicals, oil and gas, mining and construction.
Technology transfer
The economies of Scotland and Iran both rely on crude oil, and Scottish engineers were heavily involved in prospecting for oil in Iran and developing the oil industry there in the early 20th century.
But future ties between the two countries may go beyond oil.
Mr Salmond said he was taking a delegation of Scottish business leaders to Tehran shortly to promote cooperation in agricultural technology among other areas.
Scottish companies are also looking for openings in the fields of education, digital technology and gaming.
A generation of Iranian gamers grew up on Grand Theft Auto, the computer game developed by Edinburgh-based Rockstar North.
According to Mr Salmond, Scottish expertise in digitally mapping archaeological sites could one day be of interest to Iran.
Also taking part in the BBC event were a number of UK business people, with long experience of working in Iran. All agreed that exporting know-how would be a key component of future business ties with Iranian companies.
http://www.bbc.com/news/business-34551807
"This is not just a good opportunity," he told an audience at a BBC debate on the fringe of the SNP conference in Aberdeen.
"It's an unambiguously a great one. Scotland has much to offer. Benefits can flow both directions."
Iran struck a deal in July over its disputed nuclear programme.
Under the terms of the agreement, once Iran delivers on its commitments the European Union and the US will end sanctions on Iran's trade, financial and energy sectors. It is expected that this will happen sometime early next year.
Within months Iran will be producing about 500,000 barrels of oil a day, and $100bn (£65bn) of Iranian government funds, currently frozen in overseas bank accounts, will be freed up to spend in key sectors such as petrochemicals, oil and gas, mining and construction.
Technology transfer
The economies of Scotland and Iran both rely on crude oil, and Scottish engineers were heavily involved in prospecting for oil in Iran and developing the oil industry there in the early 20th century.
But future ties between the two countries may go beyond oil.
Mr Salmond said he was taking a delegation of Scottish business leaders to Tehran shortly to promote cooperation in agricultural technology among other areas.
Scottish companies are also looking for openings in the fields of education, digital technology and gaming.
A generation of Iranian gamers grew up on Grand Theft Auto, the computer game developed by Edinburgh-based Rockstar North.
According to Mr Salmond, Scottish expertise in digitally mapping archaeological sites could one day be of interest to Iran.
Also taking part in the BBC event were a number of UK business people, with long experience of working in Iran. All agreed that exporting know-how would be a key component of future business ties with Iranian companies.
http://www.bbc.com/news/business-34551807