EXCLUSIVE TO RECRUITER

Global professional recruiter Antal International is launching a campaign to attract new franchisees to Iran, a country that only recently came out of the political cold since the lifting of international economic sanctions. 

Antal International chief executive and chairman Tony Goodwin told Recruiter that a campaign on LinkedIn and social media and on a specialist franchise website will be launched in the last week of March, with the aim of attracting entrepreneurs interested in getting in at the ground floor of a new market and a region that has huge potential.  

“The aim is not only to attract people from Iran, but there is a huge diaspora of Iranians throughout the world, particularly in the UK and in America, that may want to go back, so we want to appeal to them as well,” said Goodwin. 

In January, Iran took its first step towards re-assimilation into the world economy. International economic sanctions were lifted after Iran agreed to curb its nuclear ambitions, opening up business opportunities for Western companies in a country with a population of 80m.

Sanctions were first imposed by the US after the Iranian Revolution in 1979, and the UN tightened these in 2006 after Iran refused to suspend its nuclear enrichment programme. 

A sign that relations between the UK and Iran continue to warm emerged this week when the government announced plans for cabinet minister and business secretary Sajid Javid to lead a British trade delegation to Iran in the coming months. Goodwin told Recruiter he is very keen to be part of the delegation.

At the same time, Goodwin acknowledged that Iran was part of a volatile region, and that there were risks involved in entering the country so soon after it had returned to the mainstream world economic fold. 

However, he said this wouldn’t put entrepreneurs off – in fact, quite the opposite: “It’s a real opportunity that affords you the luxury of being able to tap into a rich vein. In many respects I prefer to go into a new market than a sophisticated market like America because of the latent demand that exists.”

Iran is ripe for recruitment, said Goodwin: “Iran wants to be integrated with the rest of the world and they are going to be very keen to adopt best business practice, including the use of recruitment services.

“I don’t see any obstacles except for, as always, finding the right people,” he added. 

With oil & gas currently in the doldrums because of the slump in the price of oil, Goodwin identified FMCG [fast-moving consumer goods], pharmaceuticals, general retailing and e-commerce as providing particularly attractive opportunities for professional recruiters.

He said Antal International was looking for a master franchisee to help develop recruitment in the country and in the region, as well people to run specialist units in Tehran covering niche areas, such as pharmaceutical and oil & gas. 

Iran’s potential had been recognised by the UK government, hence the upcoming trade delegation. The British Embassy in Tehran has also reopened. 

Goodwin emphasised he was keen to be part of the delegation. “Am I keen to go personally? My view is, try and stop me. This is true entrepreneurial spirit where a market has just been opened up. This is what I live for. This is why I set up Antal.”  

Asked what his role would be as part of the delegation, he replied: “I see myself not only as founder and CEO of Antal, but a bit of a tub thumper for the recruitment industry.”

• Want to comment on this story? The Comment box is at the bottom of the page. Sorry for the glitch but just scroll right down and share your opinions!