Varous Ebrahimi, CEO of Manok, said on the sidelines of the 19th
IranPlast exhibition that the company – which operates seven workshops and
factories with a 70-year history – is among Iran’s strongest screw-cylinder
producers. “All stages of production, from salt bath treatment to surface
finishing, are carried out within our complex. We currently provide 72 direct
jobs,” he said.
Ebrahimi noted that Manok had introduced many new products over its 12
participations in the international fair. However, he added that the
exhibition’s momentum slowed after its eighth edition. “The first eight rounds
were marked by growth and expansion, but since then, the progress has stagnated.
This requires a serious review,” he said.
He urged policymakers to ensure domestic manufacturers, particularly
small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), are not sidelined. “Half of our
innovative peers in cylinder manufacturing could not attend this year due to
financial constraints,” he said. “If the government cannot fully support these
companies in today’s economic climate, at the very least it should help them
gain visibility at trade fairs like IranPlast, which are critical platforms for
marketing and branding.”
Ebrahimi stressed that providing assistance for companies to join
exhibitions is a standard policy worldwide and should not be seen as
favoritism. “Supporting SMEs and technology-based producers in marketing is a
legitimate government role, not an interventionist subsidy,” he said.