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1-Is Foreign Investment permitted in Iran?
Foreign investment is permitted in accordance with the prevailing laws and regulations of the Country. All foreign investors are permitted to invest, for the purpose of development and producing activities, in all areas of industry, mining, agriculture and services. However, from the standpoint of the Iranian government, only those investments shall be eligible to enjoy the privileges and protections under the Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Act (FIPPA) that have obtained the required license under the FIPPA.
2-What objectives are to be achieved by foreign investment?
The main objectives are:
• Enhancing economic growth;
• Increasing employment opportunities;
• Access to and development of new technologies and managerial skills;
• Upgrading quality of products and boosting export capabilities.
3-Under what legal or contractual framework, foreign investment may be admitted in Iran?
Foreign investment in Iran is admitted under all forms of legal participation (Foreign Direct Investment) and/or contractual arrangements. By contractual arrangements we mean all forms of project financing methods within the framework of civil participation, buy back arrangements, and different types of Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) schemes.
4-How do you define foreign investment?
Foreign investment is defined as employment of capital in an activity in which a level of risk involved.FIPPA classified foreign investment under two broad categories :
a) Legal participation (direct investment): is defined as a direct involvement of a foreign investor in the equity capital of a new or existing Iranian company. There is no restriction on the level of shareholding as well as percentage of shares belonging to foreign investors in Iranian companies. The right of foreign investor to run and control a company emanates from and is dependent upon his direct contribution in the equity capital of the concerned company.
b) Contractual arrangements: is defined as a set of mechanisms under which the utilization of foreign capital is solely based on agreements reached by the parties to a contract. In other words, the rights of the foreign investor is not yielded with his direct participation in the capital of the recipient Iranian firm, but through the arrangements agreed upon under a contract. This type of investment may be carried out in all sectors of economy. Under contractual arrangements, the return of capital and accrued profits have to be sourced only out of the economic performance of the project in which the investment is made without being dependent upon a repayment guarantee by the government, by the banking system as well as state owned companies.
5-In what sectors foreign direct investment is permissible?
Foreign direct investment is permissible in all areas open to Iranian private sector.
6-What legal structure do you recommend for foreign investment?
There are seven types of juridical entity or company which can be established under the Iranian Commercial Code. From among all these different types, Joint Stock Company, in which the capital is divided by shares, is the most common and acceptable type of company which can be recommended to foreign investors (For further information please refer to "Establishing a Joint Stock Company in Iran" published by OEITAI
7-Is it obligatory to have local partner(s)?
Of course not. It is by no means obligatory to have local partner, but in most cases foreign investors themselves are willing to take advantage from their local partners for the reason that they are more familiar with the business environment, regulatory and administrative requirements and opportunities locally available.
8-Is there a ceiling for foreign investment in Iran?
There is no minimum and maximum for foreign investment in respect of percentage of shareholding, nor is any restriction on the amount of investment for foreign investment in Iran.
9-If there is no restriction imposed in Iran, then what message a prospective foreign investor should get from the ratios of 25% and 35% referred to in Para (d) of Article (2) of FIPPA?
The ratios referred to in the said Para have nothing to do with the shareholding percentage of foreign investors in a single investment case. As formerly explained, no restriction with respect to the ceiling of foreign participation is imposed in Iranian companies. In fact, these ratios illustrate the proportion given to the value of goods and services produced by foreign investment in the global economy in each sector and subsector respectively, verified at the time of issuance of the foreign investment license (i.e., value of foreign products in GDP).
10-Is foreign investment permissible in oil and gas upstream activities?
Foreign investment in oil and gas upstream activities within the framework of contractual arrangements is permissible, but Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in such areas is not permitted
11-Is it permissible to use foreign trade marks and names in foreign investments?
Application of trade marks and names is permissible in all areas of economic activity.
12-Is foreign investment allowed in companies quoted in the Stock Exchange Market?
There is no restriction for investment in companies quoted in the Stock Market. Foreign investment in these companies are eligible to enjoy the protections available under FIPPA, in the same manner as is available to foreign investment outside the Stock Market .
13-How do you define Special Economic Zones in Iran and in which areas of the Country these so-called zones have so far been established?
Special Economic Zones are restricted customs areas in which import of goods, machinery and equipments is not subject to the general import/export regulations. The zones may have been established for different reasons and objectives. Some of them are established for the purpose of warehousing whereas some, in addition to warehousing of goods, are designed for setting up processing and production line. At present the number of Special Economic Zones reaches to 17 (For more information please refer to website www.freezones.ir) .
14-Is there any difference between investments made in Free Trade Industrial Zones, Special Economic Zone and the mainland?
Investment in Free Zones is subject to especial regulations governing such investments. Iranian Free Zones at present comprise six areas by the name of Gheshm, Kish, Chahbahar, Arwand, Aras and Bandar Anzali. Areas known as Special Economic Zones are part of the mainland in which all investments are considered to be investments in the mainland. Taking into consideration the applicability of Foreign Investment Law to the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran, all foreign investments realized in Free Trade and Industrial Zones may also enjoy the privileges of FIPPA, provided that the relevant formalities for obtaining the investment license have been followed .
15-What is meant by the terms Iranian Company and Foreign Company, from the standpoint of Iranian laws and regulations?
The term Iranian Company refers to a company incorporated and registered in Iran according to Iranian Commercial Code, even if a hundred percent of its shares or stocks belong to foreign natural or juridical persons. The term Foreign Company refers to a company incorporated and registered outside Iran.
16-Is it possible for foreign companies to establish legal bases in the form of branches or representative offices in Iran?
Of course yes. Any foreign company, for the purpose of expanding its commercial activities, performing its contractual obligations, carrying out marketing activities, etc. may establish a legal permanent base in the form of branch or representative office in Iran. For establishing a branch or representative office certain procedure should be followed under the Law for Establishing Branches and Representative Offices. For this purpose the applicants are advised to refer to the General Directorate for Registration of Companies and Industrial Property.
17-Is the establishment of branch or representative offices considered as foreign investment?
Establishing a branch or representative office is not considered as foreign investment. In fact, foreign investment can be realized by way of establishing a new Iranian company, participation in an existing Iranian company and/or entering into contractual arrangements with Iranian recipient entities
18-What are the features of Industrial Estates and what facilities are available in those areas?
Industrial Estates are prefabricated Estates designed and constructed by the Industrial Estates Company of Iran, affiliated to the Ministry of Industry and Mines, readily available for investors in all industrial poles throughout the Country. Even in certain Estates, factories and industrial workshops are offered for purchase. The important feature of these estates is availability of infrastructural utilities such as water, power, gas, telephone and quick access to the main transportation network of the Country.
19-In what sectors foreign investment under contractual arrangement is permissible?
Foreign investment under contractual arrangement is permissible in all sectors of economy. However, foreign investment in sectors reserved for the Government may only be carried out under contractual arrangements.
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