President of the German-Iranian Chamber of Industry and Commerce: We Will Not Retreat Even One Step

The Annual General Assembly of the German-Iranian Chamber of Industry and Commerce was held and opened with remarks by the Chamber’s President, Shahin Asghari.

At the beginning of his address, referring to the cyberattack on the Chamber’s website one day before the Assembly, he said:
“Since the current Board of Directors took office, certain groups have attempted to undermine the Chamber through destructive actions. The recent cyberattack followed the same pattern and unfortunately took the Chamber’s website offline. Our message to these individuals is clear: just like the past two years, we will not retreat even a single step. The 50-year structure of this Chamber will be preserved, and we will not allow the slightest interference with its independence as the only fully independent bilateral chamber in Iran. The mission of this Chamber is to strengthen connections between the people and private sectors of Iran and Germany, and this mission will continue.”

He continued by noting the Chamber’s fiftieth anniversary:
“This Chamber was founded half a century ago by dedicated individuals who cherished it like their own child. We had planned to hold a major event this year to mark this milestone, but due to the war between Iran and Israel, it was not possible.”

Asghari then highlighted the Chamber’s expanding activities despite political pressures, describing the role of members as decisive:
“Thanks to you, our valued members, the oldest and largest bilateral chamber in Iran remains active and resilient. At this year’s Iftar event, we presented the goal of 10 billion euros in trade between the two countries, and we believe that with improved conditions and the lifting of sanctions, this target can be reached in a short time.”

The President also expressed gratitude for the support of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Tehran, calling the presence of the Head of the Embassy’s Political Section at the Assembly “a positive and encouraging sign”:
“I especially thank Mr. Markus Potzel, Germany’s former Ambassador, who consistently supported the Chamber during his tenure and took important steps to strengthen relations between the two countries.”

Asghari also discussed cooperation after the war and challenges related to visas:
“Last year, with the support of the German Embassy, we sent 12 business delegations to Germany. Achieving this under the current political circumstances and despite the 12-day war was highly valuable and commendable.”

He additionally pointed to the Chamber’s close cooperation with the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Germany:
“Over the past year, we held highly constructive meetings with Iran’s Ambassador to Germany, Mr. Majid Nili Ahmadabadi, and worked to resolve members’ challenges in both Iran and Germany. One of the most important of these efforts was the Iran–Germany Banking Challenges Meeting, held with the participation of Iranian bank executives in Germany, foreign exchange deputies of Iranian banks, and a group of our members. The event produced very positive results, and follow-up sessions are ongoing.”

In closing, he referenced the voting results, in which only one vote was cast against the Board:
“Even that single opposing vote is meaningful to us, but overall, the results showed that members trust the direction taken by the Board over the past two years. This outcome is a great honor for all of us, and I thank each and every one of you.”