OREANDA-NEWS. On May 26, 2007 in Tabriz, the capital of East Azerbaijan Province of the Islamic Republic of Iran, took place the official opening of the assembly line of KAMAZ vehicles on the basis of the local partner of KAMAZ Inc. - the company Rakhsh Khodro Diesel, reported the press-centre of  KAMAZ.

The delegation from Tatarstan headed by Rustam Minnikhanov, RT Prime Minister, visited the ceremony. The representatives of the superior governing bodies of the Islamic Republic – First Deputy Chairman of the Iranian Parliament, Governor of East Azerbaijan Province Mohammadali Ali Sobkhanellahi, Mayor of Tabriz, a range of Ministers, Confessor of East Azerbaijan Province.

Significance of this event in Iran is proved by the fact that the representatives of 150 largest mass media and the leading TV channels of the country came to highlight the opening of the production. It is clear: besides an economic component the start of work of the Russian trucks assembly plant is important for Iran politically. The more so because several serious business-projects were initiated during Rustam Minnikhanov’s meeting with the representatives of the local business circles.

According to Sergey Kogoghin, Director General of KAMAZ Inc., who also took part in the ceremony of the opening, it is a very interesting and important project for KAMAZ Inc. It is the next phase of promotion of the largest Russian trucks producer on the promising Iranian market. The pace of development of its automobile industry is 25% per annum – it outgoes considerably not only the average economic (4,4% per annum), but also industrial growth (7,1%). To date there are over 1000 auto components producers and about 1 million people engaged in this industry in Iran. “We are interested in our presence here”, - noted Kogoghin.

Industrial capacities of the new assembly line of trucks allow to produce up to 3000 vehicles per annum. The Iranian party announced that they are ready to increase the volumes.

The history of relations between KAMAZ Inc. and Iranian enterprises began in 2002 when the company for the first time participated in the international exhibition TIIF-2002 held in Teheran. In 2003 there was started cooperation with the company Rakhsh Khodro Diesel by the instrumentality of the RT Ministry of Trade and External Economic Relations and the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Russia. Building of the assembly plant in East Azerbaijan Province was announced to be the chief aim of this cooperation.

August 2004 the contract on delivery of the first 100 KAMAZ vehicles was signed and the agreement on maintenance of vehicles in Iran was concluded. In January 2005 the company Rakhsh Khodro Diesel became the official dealer of KAMAZ Inc.

In August 2005 there was signed a license agreement on the right of assembly (out of assembly sets) and sales of vehicles KAMAZ-5460, -6460 and -6520 in Iran and a contract on delivery of the first party of 30 assembly sets. Later it was decided to launch KAMAZ-53605 vehicles as well.

In Iran there were delivered 250 ready-made vehicles KAMAZ and 30 assembly sets. In the nearest future the partners will receive 70 assembly sets more from KAMAZ Inc. At the beginning of 2007 Rakhsh Khodro Diesel received the certificate from the Ministry of Industry and Mines of Iran on the right of 3000 vehicles production per annum, including trucks. The Iranian company has recently confirmed the purchase volumes for 2007 claimed before – 530 units of KAMAZ assembly sets.