(Yicai Global) Nov. 20 -- Iran hopes to build a ‘high tech road’ with China through the opportunities brought about by the China International Import Expo, the director of the Iran Nano China Center told Yicai Global.

The CIIE is a very good opportunity for Iranian high-tech companies to come to China, find a Chinese partner, develop their cooperation and set up a business, said Amir Ghorbanali.

The Iran Nano China Center’s mission is to nurture co-operation on nanotechnology, or the use of matter on an atomic or molecular scale for industrial purposes, between Iran and China, to facilitate the attendance of such Iranian companies at Chinese exhibitions and to enable industrial and commercial visits between these two countries, he said.

Nanotechnology has been a strategic industry in Iran since 2000. The Middle Eastern country, which is located along China’s Belt and Road Initiative, has around 390 companies that produce different types of nano material and nano products, said Ghorbanali.

The technology can be used to produce a wide variety of products, including the seamless nonwoven fabrics used to make N95 face masks. It is also applied in nacho-structured electrostatic powder coating, muri silent pipes, nano fibers, power plant nano filters and water purification.

“We have demand from all over the world as everyone needs to wear masks amid Covid-19,” Ghorbanali said.

The Suzhou-based center has had to play a bigger role in facilitating exchanges between the two countries this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic which has put an end to business visits.

“The current situation is very difficult for Iranian enterprises,” said Ghorbanali. “But we are here to represent their products. We organize online meetings for the two sides to carry out negotiations,” he added.

Set up in 2015, the center is supported by the Iran Nanotechnology Initiative Council and the Iran Vice President for Science and Technology.

Editor: Kim Taylor