Hadi Ekhlaghi Feyz told the third Iranian Petrochemical Value Chain Conference that the sector, which accounts for more than 10% of global commodity trade, is a backbone of the world economy and one of Iran’s key sources of foreign currency revenue.
“Iran is the second-largest petrochemical producer in the region after Saudi Arabia and among the top ten globally,” he said. “This vast capacity requires dedicated banking and financial infrastructure to safeguard and expand our share in international markets.”
He said financing gaps remain a major obstacle for new projects. “Globally, no major energy development proceeds without banks. In Iran, this is pursued in a fragmented way,” Feyz said, adding that tools such as foreign finance, domestic and foreign currency bonds, and resources from the National Development Fund and international banks should be mobilised.
Digital banking and structured finance instruments, including letters of credit, guarantees, supply chain finance and electronic platforms, could ease liquidity flows across the petrochemical chain without direct cash transfers, he said.
Bank Tejarat has recently financed upstream and midstream oil and gas projects, and aims to extend support to knowledge-based firms, venture funds, and small and medium enterprises to strengthen all parts of the value chain, Feyz added.
“Petrochemical development cannot rely solely on production factors,” he said. “Financial tools and a shared economic language must go hand in hand with technical planning to fully complete the value chain.”