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Iran's exports value to Afghanistan to go far beyond USD1bn

Tehran,Nov 7, IRNA

Iran's non-oil exports value to Afghanistan will exceed dlrs one billion as of March 20, 2009, said an Afghan official in charge of trade here Friday.

"Real value of Iran's (direct) non-oil exports to Afghanistan is more than twice the current figures. It will reach beyond one billion dollars this year," said Head of the Association of Afghan Traders and Investors Abdulhadi Farhang in an interview with IRNA here on Friday.

Farhang said while Iran's exports to Afghanistan are growing day by day, certain official statistics put volume of the exports at dlrs 500 million.

He said Iran is one of the biggest trade partners of Afghanistan and trade ties between the two countries are times in higher level than those of many other neighbors.

He went on to say that Iran will earn yet more hard currency if facilitates Afghan businesspersons' access to Dubai via its Chabahar and Bandarabbas ports so as to export Afghan goods to other destinations via the Sheikhdom.

Malaysian Investors Head for Iran

TEHRAN (FNA)- A group of Malaysian investors have left for Tehran to assess business and investment opportunities in Iran's tourism sector.

The tour coordinator in Kuala Lumpur told the Islamic republic news agency that the group will attend the Second International Conference on Investment Opportunities in Iran Tourism Industry (November 8-9) and inspect Iranian tourist resorts.

The group of 10 Malaysian investors have been chosen to attend he tourism conference in Iran as the first such exhibition was found to be a success.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will open the meeting here at International Seminars Hall of Tehran Milad Tower on Saturday.

Chinese Commerce Minister to Visit Iran

TEHRAN (FNA)- Chinese Minister of Commerce Chen Deming, heading a delegation, is slated to arrive here in Tehran early Friday.

Chen is going to participate in the 13th session of Iran-China Joint Economic Commission in Tehran, which will be kicked off on Saturday (November 9).

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) will be inked on the sidelines of the session by Iranian Foreign Minster Manouchehr Mottaki and Chen in economic, trade, technical and scientific fields.

Meanwhile, Iranian charge d'affaires in China termed the visit as vital, calling for expansion of mutual ties in all arenas.

"Iran-China Joint Economic Commission consists of three committees including commerce, banking and industry and mines," the Islamic republic news agency quoted Saeed Shabestari as saying.

He termed the two countries' transaction as growing, adding the Iran-China transactions have surpassed dlrs 20 billion, anticipating that the figure could reach dlrs 26 billion by March 21, 2009.

Iran opens trade center in Netherlands

TEHRAN –The Trade Promotion Organization of Iran (TPOI) has inaugurated a trade center in the port city of Rotterdam in the Netherlands.

The Mehr News Agency quoted TPOI Director for Foreign Branches Affairs Hamid Zadbum as saying that a number of Iranian and Dutch traders as well as Iran-Netherlands Cultural Council members also attended the inaugural ceremony.

The two sides expressed hope that the trade center would pave the way for the two-way trade in the long run, Zadbum said, adding, they announced their full-fledged support of any activity which would enhance bilateral economic and commercial relations.

A permanent exhibition has also been set up in the trade center to showcase Iranian-made export goods as well as to offer services for streamlining the trade activity of Iranians residing in the Netherlands

Iran Seafood Expo 2008 slated for Nov. 25-28

Tehran Times Economic Desk

TEHRAN – The 6th International Fisheries, Aquaculture and Seafood Exhibition will be held from November 25 to 28 in Kish Island, southern Iran.

IRIB quoted Behrouz Kakavand, the managing director of Iranian Fisheries Export Development Fund as saying that the expo aims to showcase the latest achievements and abilities of Iran in the fields of fisheries and related industries.

The official added that the fair will display the domestic and foreign companies products in the fields of seafood, fish powder, food complements for aquaculture, fisheries output, and connected machineries and industries.

The 6th International Fisheries, Aquaculture and Seafood Exhibition is the main and largest commercial expo held annually in Kish Island.

The 5th Iran International Fisheries, Aquaculture & Seafood Exhibition was successfully held from 27-30 November 2007 in a 3000 sqm area, attracting 100 Iranian companies and 35 companies from 17 countries including UK, Spain, France, Norway, Italy, Greece, the Netherlands, Germany, China, the Persian Gulf littoral states and the U.S.

Iran-ECO-Meeting /ECO/

ECO opens meeting on statistics

Tehran,Oct26,IRNA

The first meeting of the Economic Cooperation Organization on statistics opened in Tehran on Sunday. Experts of statistics from the ECO member states are taking part in the three-day meeting

The head of Iran's Statistics Center said that the meeting aims to upgrade know-how about statistics in the ECO member states.

Mohammad Madad added that the experts are planning to create a website to provide the member states with expertise about statistics by using the Informational Technology.

Madad hoped that the meeting will expand the cooperation between the National Statistical Offices of the ECO member states as well as regional countries.

He said that the first meeting of the heads of the National Statistical Offices of the ECO member states was held in January, 2008, in Tehran that paved the way for strengthening cooperation on the domain.

The agenda of that meeting is to set an Action Plan for statistical cooperation, Madad said.

Tehran to host 1st Int'l Conference on Export Marketing

Tehran ,Oct 27, IRNA

The first International Conference on Export Marketing will be held in IRIB International Conference Centre on November 29.

Secretary of the conference said that different Iranian and foreign professors will participate in the conference.

"The landscape and export marketing challenges in the third millennium, producing commodities for export markets and so on will be addressed in the event," Mohammad-Ali Abdolvand said.

Iran's Non-Oil Exports Hit Record $20bln

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran's non-oil exports hit an annual record of $20 billion in Iranian calendar year 1386 (March 2007-March 2008), an official said.

The director of the Trade Promotion Organization of Iran (TPOI) announced here on Thursday that the country is due to celebrate the progress on October 20, which is the National Day of Exports.

Non-oil exports exceeded the figure projected in the Fourth Socio-Economic Development Plan in each of the past three years, Mehdi Ghazanfari said at a press conference, a report by the state-run tv said.

Iran's total exports for 2007, including oil but excluding service revenues, hit $83 billion, which is 0.6 percent of the world's total export value, he added.

Iranian envoy: Iran to host Halal Products Expo 2009

Beijing,Oct 11, IRNA

The Islamic Republic of Iran is to host the first International Halal Products Expo 2009 (IHPE) in next February, Iranian Ambassador to China Javad Mansouri said on Saturday.

Mansouri added that Iran and other countries involved in producing halal products will display their products during the event.

He said that Iran exports over dlrs 500 million worth of halal products abroad annually.

The envoy also called for expansion of bilateral ties between Iran and other Islamic countries.

Mansouri also put the amount of the two countries' transaction at dlrs 17.5 billion since the start of 2008, predicting the figure could increase to dlrs 30 billion by the end of current year.

Iran produces highest quality saffron, official

Tokyo,Oct 11,IRNA

Islamic Republic of Iran produces the highest quality saffron (red gold) across the world.

The head of the Fund for Development of Saffron Export made the remark while addressing the second seminar to introduce the Islamic Republic's saffron and herbal medicines at the Iranian Embassy in Tokyo on Saturday.

Ali Shariati Moqaddam added that Iran produces over 96 percent of the red gold produced worldwide.

"Iran's red gold is recognized as the best in terms of color, odor and taste across the world," he said, adding that saffron is useful in the treatment of cancer and so on.

"Although Iran produces the top-quality saffron, the market is dominated by other countries," he said.

Shariati Moqaddam underlined that Iranian saffron is currently distributed internationally under Spanish and the UAE trademarks.

"Saffron comes in large bulk packages and some countries such as Spain and the UAE are selling Iranian saffron under their own name," the official said.

Shariati Moqaddam stated that such seminars play a vital role in introducing Iranian saffron to the world.

Some 140 Iranian and Japanese university professors and researchers were present in the event.

Saffron is more than an aromatic spice for rice, soups and meat dishes. Dried filaments from the saffron flower have been used for thousands of years to make perfumes, dyes, and even herbal medicines.

Saffron is known to be a strong antioxidant, a substance thought to protect the body.

Iranian envoy, businessmen in Turkey

IRNA-Iranian Ambassador to Turkey Bahman Hosseinpour on Thursday held talks with Iran-Turkey Chamber of Commerce officials and the Turkish businessmen.

During the meeting, they discussed latest economic and trade developments and ways to enhance level of trade.

Referring to the proper situation which has been prepared for Iranian investors residing abroad, Hosseinpour highlighted recent visit of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Turkey.

"President Ahmadinejad has targeted trade cooperation to touch dlrs 20 billion a year," he said, adding Iranian businessmen could play a vital role in this respect

Dlrs 7m worth of handicrafts exported from Bushehr

IRNA-Some dlrs 7 million worth of handicrafts has been exported abroad during March 21-September 21.

Announcing this, the deputy head of Bushehr Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Department noted that the handicrafts items include marine products, straw, Gabeh and Klim.

Ahmad Dahaz cited European countries and the Persian Gulf littoral states as the main markets of provincial handicrafts items.

Dahaz underlined that some 40,000 people are directly engaged in the different fields of handicrafts industry across the province.

Khuzestan Steel Plant Boosts Production

TEHRAN (FNA)- More than one million tons of raw steel has been produced by Khuzestan Steel Company during the first six months of the current (Iranian) year.

The managing director of Khuzestan Steel Company said that the plant has produced a range of different products, including various kinds of ingots, billet, bloom and slab.

He added that the aforementioned volume of production indicates a growth of nine per cent compared to last year.

Najmosadat also said that more than 300,000 tons of steel valued at 140m dollars have been exported during the said period.

Mirkazemi meets Iranian businessmen in China

eijing, Sept 24

Visiting Iranian Commerce Minister Masoud Mirkazemi met a number of Iranian businessmen in Beijing, China, on Wednesday.

At the meeting, some of the Iranian businessmen elaborated on the problems and obstacles in conducting trade and business in China.

Issues such as mines, energy, auto-manufacturing, export of nuts from Islamic Republic to China were also discussed at the meeting.

Referring to the recent agreement signed between the two countries, Iranian businessmen added such agreements will create conditions for them to expand their activity in this country.

Mirkazemi, for his part, added Islamic Republic will always encourage Iranian businessmen to transfer technology all over the world.

Mirkazemi, heading a delegation, arrived in China late Tuesday to participate in the first commerce ministers meeting of Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Beijing.

The Iranian minister will return home on Thursday.

Chinese interested in buying Persian carpets

Tehran,Sept 24, IRNA

The Chinese people are interested in buying the Iranian hand-woven carpets, head of Iran's National Carpet Center said on Wednesday.

Morteza Faraji noted that China's rich people pay more than a hundred thousand euros for purchasing the Persian hand-woven carpets annually.

"Although, China stands first in terms of producing and exporting carpets across the world, the Chinese people prefer Iranian carpets to their own," he said.

Faraji cited Southeast Asian, European and South African countries as the other lovers of Persian carpets.

Faraji added some dlrs 100 million worth of Persian hand-woven carpets have been exported abroad during March 21-August 21.

He said the figure indicated 6.7 percent increase compared to the same period the previous year.

"Four million square meters of hand-woven Iranian carpets are exported each year to American, European and Persian Gulf littoral states as well as Japan, China and Russia," he said.

According to him, most of the exported carpets are woven in West and East Azarbaijan provinces as well as in Khorasan, Fars and Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari.

Independent chambers of commerce in free trade zones

Tehran,Sept 20

Some independent chambers of commerce would be established in the Qeshm, Kish and Chabahar Free Trade Zones in near future.

Announcing this, the Commerce Ministry representative in the free trade zones noted that chambers of commerce will be established in two phases.

"In the first phase, a representative office will be established and a local office will be set up in the next phase in the said regions," Hossein Soltani-Niya added.

He mentioned facilitating the trend of investment and trade development as the main reasons behind the establishment of the independent trade chambers.

Trade Promotion Organization to establish branches abroad

Tehran,Sept 13,

The Trade Promotion Organization of Iran will establish branches abroad, official said.

"Establishment of TPOI branches will pave the way for expansion of the Islamic Republic's trade promotion," head of TPOI representative office noted.

Hamid Zadboum added some other countries have carried out the scheme before and have a say in this respect.

"The countries of Brazil (193 personnel), Norway (200), Japan (780), Finland (240), Sweden (235 and Mexico (88) are fully active in this sector," he said.

He also urged the respective officials to pay much attention to the commercial attaches and the TPOI branches across the world.

Zadboum added that the Iranian commercial attaches are obliged to implement the responsibilities of the branches

Iran to Export $2.5bln Technical, Engineering Services

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian officials have set a target of $2.5 billion for the export of technical and engineering services for the current Iranian calendar year.

The Technical and Engineering Services Exports Organization of Iran (TESEOI) plans to export $2.5 billion worth of services during the current Iranian calendar year (ends March 20, 2009), TESEOI Director Mohammad Hassan Mehdipur said on Saturday in Almaty.

He traveled to Kazakhstan to visit some development projects currently being implemented by Iranian companies in the Central Asian state.

Mehdipur stated that in Iranian calendar year 1385 (ended March 20, 2007), the country exported $1.6 billion worth of technical and engineering services, which rose to $2.1 billion in the following year (ended March 19, 2008), Tehran Times said, citing an Iranian state-tv report.

Forty Iranian companies are currently involved in construction, energy, water, and electricity projects in foreign countries, he added

Carpet Exports Hit Another High

Exporters of hand-woven carpets should know their target markets and find new ones.

Stating the above to ISNA, managing director of Iran Carpet Company said carpet exports will increase in the current Iranian year (ending March 20, 2009).

Jalaleddin Bassam added that the drop in carpet prices has increased demand for Iranian hand-woven carpets in Asia.

Bassam added that carpet exports reached $132 million during March 21-August 21 while the figure was $125 million in the same period a year earlier.

According to him, high crude prices have affected the carpet market and that the US economy as one of the main target markets for Iranian carpets is in recession.

In conclusion, he urged exporters to shift to the markets in Russia, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand and Central Asia where the economic growth has been robust.

Iranian carpets have enjoyed a great reputation for centuries and have maintained their strong position in the global market. According to the Iran National Carpet Center (INCC), the nation exports nearly 4 million square meters of hand woven rugs, which is almost 80 percent of the total production of around 5 million square meters.Some of the regions where these stunning and mesmerizing carpets are woven include West and East Azarbaijan, Khorasan, Fars, and Chahar Mahal-Bakhtiari provinces. The Iranian rugs are mostly exported to the US, Europe, Persian Gulf countries, Japan, China, and Russia, bringing high revenues for the nation

$11.9b foreign investment made in 2007

IRNA-Some dlrs 10.3 billion and dlrs 11.9 billion foreign investment have been made in 184 projects in 2006 and 2007 respectively.

According to IRNA Economic News Service, some 80 plans refer to 2006 and the rest to 2007.

"The figures indicate 176 percent growth in comparison with the 2005 and 135 percent increase in comparison with 2006," the report said.

2.6m tons of commodities transited during March 21-Aug 21

IRNA-Some 2.6 million tons of oil and non-oil commodities were transited abroad during March 21-August 21.

During the same period, over 2.3 million tons of non-oil commodities were transited abroad, indicating a 14.8 percent increase compared to the same period the previous year.

Over 600,000 tons of commodities were transited via railway network, showing a 10.2 percent rise in comparison with the previous year.

The share of road transit was 27,000 tons, indicating a 7.5 percent hike compared to the same period the previous year.

Among the border transit point, Bandar Abbas (with 976,727 tons) stands first in term of transiting commodities.

Cotton, fuel, household appliances, commercial materials

300,000 tons of non-oil commodities exported from Mashhad

Mashhad, Khorasan Razavi,Sept 10, IRNA

Some 315,000 tons of non- oil commodities were exported abroad via Khorasan Razavi Customs Office during March 21-August 21.

Announcing this, the head of the Khorasan Razavi Customs Office put the value of exported items at dlrs 354 million.

Masoud Atefi added the figure indicates 22 and 29 percent increase in terms of weight and value respectively compared to the correspondent period last year.

"Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan are among he main destinations of the exported goods," he said.

Iran-Turkey Trade Hits $6bln in 7 Months

TEHRAN (FNA)- Trade between Iran and Turkey reached US$6.1 billion in the first seven months of the year 2008, indicating an increase of 37 per cent compared to the corresponding period last year.

According to the statistics released by Turkey State Statistics Institute, the rapid growth in the volume of Tehran-Ankara trade is in line with the determination of the two countries' leaders to further boost economic relations.

Turkey's exports to Iran in the same period stood at US$1.175 billion, showing an increase of 67.1 per cent compared to the previous year, while the country's imports from the Islamic Republic in that period reached US$4.946 billion, indicating a rise of 31.7 per cent compared to the preceding year.

The Islamic Republic of Iran ranked seventh in terms of Turkey's imports but 19th in terms of exports during the first seven months of 2008.

Zagros Exports At 690,000 Tons

Zagros Petrochemical Company exported 690,000 tons of petrochemicals products in the first five months of the current Iranian calendar year (which started March 20).

The National Iranian Petrochemical Company’s Public Relations Office told ISNA that 156,000 tons of methanol were also exported during July 22-August 21.
Over 1.1 million tons of methanol were also exported during March 2007-2008, the report said.

Methanol, also known as methyl alcohol, is a chemical compound with chemical formula CH3OH.

Meanwhile, the government’s Economic Commission is offering more funds to the development projects of Kavian, Mahabad and Lorestan petrochemical complexes.

The commission approved a request from the Lorestan governor general’s office to increase financial facilities for the complexes from Û500 million to Û870 million in collaboration with the Bank of Industry & Mine.

The development projects of Kavian, Lorestan and Mahabad petrochemical complexes will come on stream in 2011.

The volume of Petrochemical products exported from Assaluyeh port during the same period also increased more than twofold in comparison to the same period a year earlier.

Exports reached 2.8 million, up one hundred percent from last year’s 1.2 million tons.

$19b foreign investment approved in industry, mine sectors

RASHT – Iran’s deputy industries and mines minister for economic and international affairs announced that the government has approved over $19 billion foreign investment in the country’s industry and mines sector.

Ali-Asghar Marzi added that the approved foreign investment during 2002-2004 was about $1.9 billion.

Meanwhile the country’s industries and mines sector shows a 900 percent growth in the past three years in comparison to the three years before that, Mehr News Agency reported on Friday.

Also, the official noted that the industrial and mineral exports in the past Iranian calendar year (ending March 19, 2008) accounted for 79 percent of the country’s non-oil exports while the figure in the first four months of the current Iranian calendar year (started March 20) stands at $5.3 billion, which makes up 8.86 percent of the country’s non-oil exports.

Grapes Harvest Starts in Northeastern Iran

TEHRAN (FNA)- Gardens of the northeastern province of southern Khorassan are estimated to yield over 6 thousand tons of Grapes this year.

"The under cultivation area of irrigated Grapes' gardens is One thousand 973 hectares in the province and it's anticipated that about 6 thousand 310 tons of Grapes will be harvested", the deputy of plant products of the provincial agricultural jihad organization was quoted by IANA as saying.

"Grapes harvest continues until the month Mehr since late Khordad (i.e. June-September)", added Mohammad Zeraee, stating that the average functionality of Grapes is 3 thousand 198 Kilograms per hectare.

He stated that the most important species of Grapes are "Askari", "Yaghouti", "Hosseini", "Pikami", "Shahroudi" and around 14 other local species, and added that there are about One thousand 400 hectares of non-irrigated Grapes in the province which have been suffering from drought since a few years ago.

"In the past farming year, about 400 tons of variety of chemical fertilizers have been delivered to the Grape growers and in the current year also fighting against pests has been done over 187 hectares of vineyards and fighting against diseases has been applied over 217 hectares", he continued.

Ghazanfari: Iran to help reconstruct Iraq

Deputy Commerce Minister Mehdi Ghazanfari held talks with Iraqi Deputy Construction and Housing Minister brahim Al-Shukr on issues of mutual interest on Monday.

At the meeting, Ghazanfari voiced Iran's readiness to contribute to Iraq's reconstruction.

Ghazanfari, who is also head of Iran's Trade Development Organization (ITDO), disclosed that 10 joint projects (worth dlrs 300 million) have been implemented in Iraq.

Referring to the establishment of Iraq office in ITDO, he expressed hope that the level of mutual cooperation would increase in near future.

The Iraqi official, for his part, called for expansion of bilateral ties in all fields.

He also reassured Iranian businessmen seeking investment in Iraq that situation has improved in this respects.

Al-Shukr said that the ground is prepared for implementation of joint reconstruction projects in his country.

Iran, Egypt meet to discuss trade balance

IRNA-The Islamic Republic and Egypt held a meeting here on Tuesday to discuss the balance of trade between the two countries.

Announcing this, head of Trade Promotion Organization of Iran's Trade Balance Committee added the meeting seeks to introduce Egypt's trade capabilities, evaluate bilateral political and economic relations among other relevant issues.

"Currently, Iran has a negative trade balance with Egypt due to the import of tobacco, steel bars, carbon and orange," Mohammad Mousavi Mirkalaei said.

He hoped that the balance would become positive once traders in the Islamic Republic become familiar with Egypt's trade potentials.

Iran-Turkey trade reaches $6b in 7 months

Trade between Iran and Turkey reached dlrs 6.1 billion in the first seven months of the year 2008, indicating an increase of 37 percent compared to the corresponding period last year.

According to the statistics released by Turkey State Statistics Institute, the rapid growth in the volume of Tehran-Ankara trade is in line with the two countries' leaders determination to further boost economic relations.

Turkey's exports to Iran in the same period stood at dlrs 1.175 billion, showing an increase of 67.1 percent compared to the previous year, while the country's imports from the Islamic Republic in that period reached dlrs 4.946 billion, indicating a rise of 31.7 percent compared to the preceding year.

The Islamic Republic of Iran ranked seventh in terms of Turkey's imports but 19th in terms exports during the first seven months of 2008.

Iran’s industrial, mineral exports ahead of schedule: minister

TEHRAN – Iran’s industries and mines minister here on Saturday announced that the country’s industrial and mineral exports are ahead of the goals set in the Fourth Five-Year Socioeconomic Development Plan (2005-2010).

Ali-Akbar Mehrabian predicted that the industrial and mineral exports would hit $58 billion by the end of the Fourth Plan, IRIB reported.
The country’s industrial and mineral exports in the first three years of the Fourth Plan touched $30 billion, accounting for 76 percent of the country’s total non-oil exports.
In the first five months of the current Iranian calendar year (started March 20), the industrial products exports accounted for 85 percent of the total non-oil exports .

Iran Plans to Export $8.5b Worth of Petrochemicals

TEHRAN, Aug. 30 (MNA)— Iran has exported $3.7 billion worth of petrochemicals in the first 5 months of current Iranian calendar year (March 20, 2008-March 20, 2009) and we estimate this amount to rise to $8.5 billion by the end of year, National Petrochemical Company (NPC)’s deputy director said here on Friday.
Talking to MNA, Reza Afshin added, “During the past few years the foreign investors have invested about $1.5 billion in Iran’s petrochemical industry.”
“Currently Jam, Aria Sasol and Farsa Shimi petrochemical complexes have started their initial production phase and will be inaugurated later. Laleh and Karoon units also will be completed in the near future,” he explained while adding that 12 petrochemical units will certainly come on stream by the end of the current Iranian calendar year.
He went on to note that so far some contracts with foreign companies have been finalized and stated, “At present we are holding negotiations with Malaysian and Venezuelan companies.”

Non-oil exports from Markazi prov reaches about 8m tons

IRNA-Some 7.9 million tons of non-oil commodities worth dlrs 74.9 million were exported from Markazi province during March 21-August 21.

Announcing this, head of provincial customs office added that the commodities were exported to over 72 Asian, African, European and Central American countries.

Mahdi Mir-Eshraqi listed glass, mirror, iron profile, lead pipe, wagon, flower, carpet, hand-woven carpet, agricultural machinery as among the main exported items.

Ghazanfari: Export of non-oil commodities to increase

Tehran,Aug 26

As per the Fourth Five-year Economic Development Plan, some dlrs 11.5 billion have been targeted for export of non-oil commodities during March 2008-March 2009, Deputy Trade Minister Mehdi Ghazanfari said on Tuesday.

Ghazanfari anticipated that the figure could reach dlrs 18 billion by the end of current Iranian calendar year March 20, 2009.

Citing the performances of the ninth government in exporting the non-oil commodities as positive, he added the export of non-oil commodities plus condensate gas will reach dlrs 24 billion during March 2008-March 2009.

"Non-oil commodities worth dlrs 43 billion have been exported since ninth government took the helm on 2005," Ghazanfari added.

The figure shows 169 percent increase compared to the previous government, he said.

Iran-Germany Trade Value Up by 12%

TEHRAN (FNA)- The value of trade between Iran and Germany in the first half of 2008 touched 2.121 billion euros, showing a 12 percent rise over 1.870 billion euros related to the same period in 2007.

Iran exported 210.688 million euros to Germany, accounting for 10 percent of the bilateral trade, and imported 1.910 billion from the European country, the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) reported.

Iran's exports to Germany indicate a 6.5 percent drop and its imports show a 13.92 percent growth in the period.

Iran exported raw material, marginal products, semi-finished goods, semi-fabricated products, and animal-based food products and imported animal-based and vegetable-based food products, end products, semi-finished goods, and raw materials.

Iran's exports of crude oil in the period rose to 22.254 million euros showing 74.8 percent rise against the same period in 2007.

Iran world's top exporter of quality rugs

Despite the recent decline, Iran is still the world's leading exporter of hand-woven quality rugs, says Iran's commerce minister.

Iran produces 515 million square meters of hand-woven rugs annually of which more than two thirds are exported, said Massoud Mirkazemi in the opening ceremony of the 17th exhibition of hand-woven Persian rugs on Friday.

The main target markets for the Iranian hand-woven rugs are Germany, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Italy, Japan, Switzerland and Canada and the main competitors of the country are India, Pakistan, China and Nepal, the minister added.

He also referred to the importance of the other floor covers, saying that their production has increased from 31,000 tons valued at $72 million seven years ago to 40,000 tons worth $161,000 million in the last year.

Iran can increase its presence in the untapped markets by greater investment and more production with an eye on the regional markets' tastes in terms of designs and colors and of course, right marketing means.

Although foreign competitors are in agreement over higher quality of Iranian rugs, they offer cheaper products by using low-quality and inexpensive materials.

Holding international exhibitions and inviting foreign firms will open up greater opportunities for Iranian producers of the Persian rugs in the international markets.

At least 70 suppliers and buyers from 35 American, European and Asian countries are expected to attend this year's exhibition which will run until August 28.

Iran-Tajikistan trade on the rise

TEHRAN – The Iranian embassy’s economic attaché in Tajikistan said on Saturday that trade between Iran and Tajikistan has experienced considerable growth.

Stating a record of bilateral trade over the past several years, Parviz Samadi said that it had stood at $40 million in 2000 while the figure soared to $150 million last year, adding that the rising trend is onward.

Samadi said that the two countries have already held seven meetings of the joint economic commission the latest of which was held in April this year in Tehran.

Iran has so far set up several trade fairs in Tajikistan in different fields including construction business and Iranian-made goods.

Iranian and Tajik companies have implemented several joint venture projects in a tractor manufacturing plant, vegetable oil factory, chicken breeding, mineral water and beverages, and low-consumption lamps, IRNA reported.

The Islamic Republic of Iran has the construction of large projects such as Esteqlal tunnel as well as Sangtudeh 2 dam underway in Tajikistan.

Iran was the first country which officially recognized Tajikistan’s Independence in 1997, Samadi noted

17th carpet exhibit to open on August 22

Tehran, Aug 20

The 17th Handwoven Persian Carpet Exhibition will be held in Tehran's Permanent International Fairground from August 22-28.

According to the exhibition's public relations office, 414 foreign and domestic companies will showcase their products including carpets, kilim and gabeh in an area of 35,000 square meters.

The event is a best venue for introducing the Iranian carpet industry to the world, the public relations office said.

Earlier, deputy head of Iran Carpet Company noted that the government will grant special facilities for establishment of carpet-weaving factories in a bid to make carpet production target-oriented and promote the quality of Persian carpets.

"So far a total of 200 carpet-weaving factories have become operational using such facilities," Mohammad Abed said, underlining that with the implementation of the plan, orders for Persian carpet as well as supervision over the quality of production will increase.

Commenting on the specifications of the plan, Abed also said that under the plan, raw materials used in the factories will also be overseen by technical inspectors.

He also said that Commerce Ministry has proposed the government to set aside 500 billion rials so as to procure quality raw materials for the purpose.

Over 107,000 tons of goods transited via Sistan-Baluchestan

Zahedan,Sistan,Baluchestan prov, Aug 20

Over 107,998 tons of commodities, worth dlrs 353.9 million, were transited abroad via Mirjaveh, Chabahar and Milk Customs Offices during the first quarter of current Iranian calender year (starting on March 20, 2008).

Announcing this, observer of Sistan-Baluchestan Customs Office noted that the figure indicated a 5-percent increase in weight compared to the same period the previous year.

"The commodities have been transited to Iraq, Pakistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan and Afghanistan," Mahmoud Barahouei-Nejad said.

According to him, some 44,489 passengers have been transferred via the said customs offices during the same period.

Tehran Non-Ferrous Metals Industries Fair begins

Tehran,Aug 18

The First Non-Ferrous Metals Industries Exhibition was inaugurated at Tehran International Fairgrounds on Monday.

The latest achievements in the field of non-ferrous metals industries will be put on display in the five-day event.

Meanwhile, managing director of Islamic Republic International Exhibitions Company noted that the objective of the exhibitions is to provide an insight into the capabilities of domestic and foreign producers.

Jalal Hosseini termed non-ferrous metals industries as one of the fledgling industries in the country, stating that holding such exhibitions can prepare the ground for improving the quality of similar industries across the country.

"Some 60 Iranian companies and one foreign firm are showcasing their products in an area of 2,050 square meters," he concluded.

Export of non-oil goods up by 145 pc

Tehran ,Aug 11

Export of non-oil commodities, excluding gas condensates, increased by 145 percent during March 2004-March 2006, Commerce Minister Masoud Mirkazemi said on Monday.

Mirkazemi said the export of non-oil commodities plus gas condensates increased by 100 percent during the same period.

Referring to the performance of the ninth government, he said some dlrs 43.5 billion worth of non-oil commodities, with the exception of gas condensates, were exported abroad during the said period.

"The figure indicated 169 percent increase compared to the amount exported during the tenure of the eighth government," he said.

The minister indicated that over dlrs 142.4 billion worth of commodities were imported during the same period.

Meanwhile, some dlrs 5.8 billion worth of non-oil commodities were exported in the first quarter of the current Iranian year (started March 20).

Announcing this, the head of the secretariat of High Council for Export of Non-Oil Commodities affiliated to Trade Promotion Organization of Iran noted that the figure shows a two-fold increase compared to the amount for the same period of the previous year.

Leila Baqeban put the value of the export of non-oil commodities, with the exception of gas condensates, at dlrs 4.3 billion, showing a 147 percent increase compared to the figure for the same period the previous year.

"Major export commodities included petrochemical products, iron- ware, steel, handwoven carpet and pistachio," she said.

She said that the top export destinations of Iranian non-oil commodities were the UAE followed by China, Iraq, India and Japan.

"Some dlrs 12.9 billion worth of commodities were imported during the said period," she said.

Baqeban noted that the main exporters to Iran were the UAE, Germany, China, South Korea and Switzerland

Over 43,000 tons of pistachio exported

Tehran, Aug 11

Some 43,000 tons of pistachio worth dlrs 272 million were exported during March 21-May 21, 2008.

Announcing this, the head of Dried Fruits Department of the Agriculture Jihad Ministry noted that the figure shows a 7.8-percent rise compared to the figure for the same period last year.

"Over 197,000 tons of pistachio, worth dlrs 230.5 million were exported during the same period in the previous year," Aqareza Fotohi said.

Fotohi said that some 171,000 tons of pistachio worth dlrs 68 million were exported during March 2006-March 2007.

"The Islamic Republic stands first in producing the best quality pistachio in the world," he said.

The official added that some 450 hectares were under pistachio cultivation nationwide last year

Saipa to Export 20,000 Vehicles to Algeria

IranNews - Iran’s auto giant Saipa will export 3,000 to 5,000 cars to Algeria in the current year, and according to plans, Algeria will import a total of 20,000 Saipa-made vehicles within the next three years, Vice-Chairman of Saipa Board of Directors Mohammad-Reza Roshani Moqaddam said yesterday.

He was further quoted by MOJ news agency as emphasizing that Saipa is the main automaker in Iran and its key strategy is to design and supply a variety of fuel-efficient cheap cars.

Addressing Algerian reporters during a press conference, he reminded that: “Saipa has been present in Algeria’s market for the past 1.5 years and has inked a cooperation deal with its Algerian partner. Meanwhile to produce autos and to make investments, the two parties should become further familiar with each other, while in accordance to reached agreements the results of studies conducted on the launch of Saipa production line in Algeria will be specified within the next six months and we hope to be witness to production of autos in Algeria.”

He further underlined that a major part of Algerian market, like Iran’s, belongs to cheap and fuel-efficient cars and “we hope to have a significant share of Algerian market by supplying a variety of products”.

Elsewhere, Hassan Amouzadeh, Head of Saipa After-Sales Services Organization, referred to as Saipa-Yadak, who had also attended this press conference, said that concurrent with the sales of Saipa products in Algeria, human resources have been trained for rendering post-sales services and Saipa booklets have been translated to Arabic and French.

He added that all of Saipa products auto parts, sold in Algeria, are coded.

Moreover, Head of Sipac Company, Mohammad Rahmon, noted that according to plans “we intend to launch Sipac sales agencies in all of the Algerian cities.”

At the first stage, all of Saipa’s products have been exported to Algeria via Sipac Company.

Iran Khodro to export 4,000 cars to Afghanistan

Tehran,Aug 2, IRNA

Iran-Khodro Auto Manufacturing Company, the Middle East's largest automaker, has decided to export 4,000 cars to Afghanistan by 2009.

Announcing this on Saturday, the company's export director for Asia and Pacific region noted that the autos include Samand LX, Samand, Peugeot 405 and Peugeot 206.

"So far, some 100 cars have been exported to Afghanistan," Mohammad-Hossein Yazdi said, adding over 1,800 vehicles will be exported in near future.

"As per the company's planning, some 20 percent of the Iran Khodro's production will be allocated to Asia and Pacific region," he said.

Yazdi underlined that the company is more active in such countries as Turkey and Afghanistan among the Asia and Pacific region, adding negotiations are underway with other countries of the region in this respect.

Given that Samand has gained popularity among Turkish people, he added the company has signed a contract with Turkey to export 3,000 Samand LX and Samand Soren to the neighboring country.

Meanwhile, the company managing director noted that the company has decided to export 50 percent of its total products by 2016.

"Iran Khodro has decided to export more CNG-powered engines mainly to Muslim countries," Manouchehr Manteqi said.

"Some dlrs 60 million worth of cars was exported in 2007," he said, adding that the figure would increase to dlrs 200 million by 2010.

The company has manufactured 2,800,000 vehicles in the past six years.

Iran-Uzbekistan hold joint economic commission

Tashkent,July 31,IRNA

Iran and Uzbekistan 9th joint economic, commercial commission was held here Wednesday.

Iran's Commerce Minister Masoud Mir-Kazemi, who headed Iran's delegation, said, "Considering historical, cultural and religious commonalities we ask for expansion of ties in all fields with our brotherly country Uzbekistan."

Existing potentials in different fields of oil and gas industry, agriculture, mine, petrochemicals and other industrial sectors can promote commercial and economic cooperation between Iran and Uzbekistan, Mir-Kazemi added.

He continued, "We are both trying to increase commercial exchange level to one billion dollars, annually."

Nasiruddin Najimev, deputy minister of foreign economic and commercial relations, said " According to the existing statistics, commercial exchange level has increased five fold from year 2000 to 2007.

Commercial exchange between the two countries reached to 385 million dollars in the first six months of the year 2008, while it was 565 million dollars for the whole last year.

He continued, "Currently some 117 Iranian investing companies are active in Uzbekistan."

The two sides are to consider and discuss the latest situation of bilateral cooperation in the fields of transportation, commerce, banking, energy, tourism and standard and ways to promote and develop them.

It was said that documents on expansion of economic and commercial cooperation are to be signed at the end of the meeting.

Industrial, mineral exports up to dlrs 3.6bn

Tehran,July 26, IRNA

Mineral and industrial exports increased to dlrs 3.6 billion in the first quarter of the current Iranian calendar year starting on March 20, 2008.

According to the Public Relation Department of the Ministry of Industries and Mines, the figure shows an increase of 11.5 percent in weight and 44.1 percent in value compared to the corresponding period last year.

Metal and non-metal goods, as well as plastic and chemical products were among major goods exported to several world countries including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Iraq, China, Japan and India over the said period

Iran, South Africa call for cooperation

Pretoria,July 20, IRNA

Iran and South Africa on Saturday reviewed further expansion of bilateral cooperation in the areas of energy and industries.

In a meeting held between Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Mohammad-Reza Baqeri and South African Foreign Minister Dlamini Zuma, the two sides called for bilateral cooperation in construction of power plants and refineries.

The meeting was held in the city of Durban, the venue of the two-day meeting of the Southern African Development Community's (SADC) security troika.

During the meeting, the two officials also underscored the need for making joint investment in the areas of industries and oil sector.

Briefing the South African minister on the latest developments in the Persian Gulf and the Middle East, Baqeri termed the outcome of the two countries joint working committee as positive.

The agenda of the next foreign ministers meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) which is to be held in Tehran on July 28-29 was also discussed by the two sides.

Baqeri expressed the hope that Tehran would host the NAM foreign ministers meeting

37,000 tons of agricultural products exported via Astara

Astara,West Azarbaijan prov, July 19, IRNA

Over 37,000 tons of agricultural products were exported via Astara in West Azarbaijan province in the first three months of the current Iranian year (starting on March 21), showing a 10-percent decline compared to the figure for the same period last year.

Announcing this, head of Astara Agricultural Jihad Department put the value of the exported items at dlrs 13.7 million.

Meanwhile, managing director of Astara Customs Office observed that some 99.6 97 tons of foreign-made commodities have been transited via Astara in the same period, showing an increase of nine percent compared to the figure for the same period last year.

Hossein Barzegar put the value of transited commodities at dlrs 519.3 million which indicated a 66 percent rise over similar period last year.

Barzegar cited autos, machinery, foodstuff, poultry, cattle, rice and sugar as the main transited commodities to Caucasus.

"The decorative commodities from the UAE, Turkey, Iraq, South Korea and Pakistan are transited to Azerbaijan and Georgia via Astara," he said.

Earlier Barzegar noted that over 281 million dlrs worth of commodities has been exported from Astara Customs Office during the past Iranian year ending on March 20.

He stated that over 499 tons of commodities were exported to Azerbaijan and Georgia in the past Iranian year (March 2007-2008).

The figure showed a six percent increase compared to the same period the previous year, Barzegar said.

Barzegar stated that major export items included construction materials, industrial goods, clothing and textile fabrics.

Astara (which is located in the north of Gilan province and in the vicinity of Azarbaijan Republic) has turned into the most active border city across the country.

Call for establishing Iran-German committee (copy 1)

Tehran, July 19, IRNA

Visiting head of Iran's Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Mines Mohammad Nahavandian held talks on Saturday with a number of German officials on issues of mutual interest.

At the meeting, he called for establishment of Iran and Germany joint committee in the near future for the settlement of financial disputes between the two countries.

Referring to economic sanctions over Iran's peaceful nuclear activities, he underlined that sanctions may end some day and noted that the two countries should become familiar with each other's economic potentials.

He also called for expanding scientific cooperation with Germany.

Given the establishment of Iranian commerce center in Germany, Nahavandian noted that some negotiations have been held in this respect.

He also termed the establishment of the joint committee as vital in expanding bilateral ties.

Referring to longstanding Iran-Germany economic and political ties, he noted that the political issues should not hinder trade ties

Support for Small Businesses

Investment in small businesses with quick returns not only is not inflationary but leads to an increase in production, observed head of House of Industries and Mines Hadi Ghanimifard. Speaking in a conference to review the performance of economic enterprises with quick investment returns, he said that increasing national products is the only way to resolve unemployment, reported IRNA. “Setting up large economic entities, which is costly and time consuming, cannot help tackle the unemployment over the short term,“ he stated. Ghanimifard said that unfortunately banks are unwilling to extend facilities to small enterprises with quick return. He noted that the government should only supervise the economy while the private sector should undertake the task of economic development. Fortunately rich resources, efficient manpower and potential markets of the county prepare suitable grounds for the activities of institutes with quick return which are capable of resolving 70 percent of the unemployment problem, he concluded.

22/6/2007

W. Azarbaijan expects non-oil exports to exceed $500m

TEHRAN – The value of non-oil exports from West Azarbaijan Province will likely surpass $500 million in the current Iranian calendar year (to end March 20, 2009), head of the province’s Commerce Department stated on Saturday.
Talking to ISNA, Mr. Ja’far Sadeq Eskandari said that some 70 percent of the province’s exports last year were sent to Iraq. “We have targeted Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan as other potential markets,” he added.
The official said that the province exported $373 million worth of products in the past (Iranian) year, 37 percent more than the anticipated $270 million of the five-year development program.
Fruit juice and juice concentrates, white cement, soft drinks, mineral water, raisins, carpets, and handicrafts were the products mainly exported to Iraq, Russia, Armenia, Bulgaria, Pakistan, Germany, the U.S., and Japan

ECO members welcome Iran's proposals

Baku,May 23,IRNA

Iran's proposals were welcomed by member countries at 5th Experts Meeting of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Environment Protection Conference here Friday.

Deputy of Iranian Environment Protection Organization in Education and Research Affairs, Mohammad-Ali Rajabzadeh presented Iran's proposals on Friday evening, at the end of the two-day meeting, including the establishment of an environment science and technology institute, that was welcomed by member states who also decided that Iran is the best place for the establishment of such an institute.

Electronic publication of environmental information and magazines by ECO member countries as well as eco-tourism were two other proposals made by Iran's representative at the international gathering.

The representatives of other ECO member countries, too, presented their viewpoints and reports on environment protection to the gathering.

The Research and Education Deputy of the Iranian EPO told IRNA on the sidelines of the event, "At Baku expert level gathering we also surveyed the issues discussed at previous ECO meeting, including those discussed at ECO Environment Ministers Conference." He added, "It was agreed that Iran would host the 6th meeting of ECO member countries environment protection experts in winter of 2009."

Iran, Tajikistan reach agreement on insurance cooperation

Tehran,May 7, IRNA

 

The 7th meeting Iran-Tajikistan Joint Economic Cooperation Commission ended in Tehran Wednesday.

During the meeting, an agreement on insurance cooperation was signed by the two countries.

As per the agreement, the two countries are obliged to cooperate in developing insurance services, covering reinsurance for giant projects and holding training seminars.

Both sides also reached an agreement to support insurance of properties and provide the two countries' citizens with compulsory medical, transport, engineering and third-party insurance services.

The meeting was held for five days as of May 3.

During the meeting, Iranian Energy Minister Parviz Fattah noted that the Islamic Republic of Iran gave priority to expansion of ties with Muslim countries such a Tajikistan.

He also underlined the need to follow up previous agreements reached between the two countries in the fields of road building, electricity and railways.

PGCC to talk with Iran on establishment of common market

Riyadh,April 26,IRNA

Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (PGCC) will start negotiations with Iran on establishment of a trade common market.

Saudi Arabia's official News Agency ( SPA) quoting Secretary General of PGCC Abdul Rahman bin Hamad al-Attiyah on Saturday saying, "With the aim of consolidating economic ties, increasing trade exchange and creating joint investments opportunities with countries like Iran and South Korea, the PGCC will start talks with them." He also expressed hope that talks with the European Union conclude this year.

Al-Attiyah noted that the council will also start talks with countries like Japan, China, Turkey, Australia, New Zealand, India and Pakistan for creating such common market.

 

Rise in exports from Imam Khomeini port city

Ahvaz, April 20, IRNA

Imam Khomeini port city witnessed a 24 percent increase in its exports during last Iranian year, IRNA reported on Sunday.

The rise was observed in export of chemical materials, iron and wheat, deputy head of Khuzestan province Ports and Shipping Department said.

Imam Khomeini port city exported 6.3 million tons of commodities last year, loaded and unloaded 21.8 million tons of goods which registered a 6 percent increase compared with the preceding year.

The port is now a major center for export of wheat, the official said. 40 percent of goods exported from Iran are loaded at the port city.

East Azarbaijan exports $200m worth carpet

Tabriz,April 14, IRNA

 

East Azarbaijan province exported dlrs 200 million worth carpets last Iranian year, the provincial Commerce Organization said on Monday.

Director of Commerce Organization Sadeq Najafi said that the hand-woven Persian carpets were exported to the countries including United States, Japan, the Persian Gulf states, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and the European countries.

Holding Persian Carpet Specialized Exhibition in Denmark and also reviewing the carpet weavers' problems are some measures taken by the organization to boost quality standard of the hand-woven Persian carpets, Najafi said.

There are almost 300,000 people in East Azarbaijan, northwestern Iran, weaving high quality Persian carpets.

Markazi province exports 243,000 tons of goods

Arak, April 12, IRNA

 

The Manager of Markazi province's Customs Office said on Saturday that 243,000 tons of goods worth dlrs 176 million were exported abroad from the province last year.

Mehdi Mir-Ashrafi said that the exported commodities from the province included agricultural machinery, glass, mirror, petrochemical materials, kerosene, galvanized foil, aluminum foil, carpets, etc.

He also added that 115 tons of goods exported from the province were oil products valued at dlrs 75,815 million.

North Khorasan exports 54,000 tons of goods

Bojnourd,North Khorasaan prov, April 12, IRNA

 

Some 54,000 tons of goods valued at dlrs 50 million were exported from North Khorasan in the last Iranian year to March 19.

Announcing this on Saturday, head of North Khorasan Customs Office said that the goods were sent to Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and the Persian Gulf littoral states.

Javad Jafari noted that the commodities included crystals, steel products, glue, paints, plastic wares, foodstuff and industrial detergents.

So far, over dlrs 7 million worth of goods were exported via the provincial customs office which began operation in December 2007

Golestan exports 151,000 tons of goods

Gorgan,April 8, IRNA

 

Deputy Governor General of Golestan province for planning said on Tuesday that the province exported 151,000 tons of goods valued at dlrs 79.3 million last year.

Mohammad Mousavi said that the export from Golestan province has had 12.2 percent increase in terms of weight compared with the preceding year.

The export also rose up by 23.3 percent in terms of value in the period.

The major exported commodities were mineral products and industrial outputs respectively, Mousavi said.

He also added that Golestan province exports the products to central Asian countries from Gorgan, Gonbad Kavous, Inche Boroun Customs Office and Bandar Torkaman borders.

The exported goods included industrial foodstuffs, fruits, machine-made carpets, plastic and metalic products, drink, mirror, caviar, etc.

Golestan province is located in northern Iran, adjacent to Mazandaran, Semnan and North Khorasan provinces and also

 

Iran, Argentina to broaden economic cooperation

Tehran Feb 19,IRNA

Director General for Iran's Chamber of Cooperatives Mohammad Reza Ramezani said here Tuesday that Iran is to broaden economic cooperation with Argentina.

Ramezani made the remarks in a meeting with Argentine Charge d'Affaires to Tehran Mario Quinteros.

At the meeting, he underlined the need for expansion of economic and commercial cooperation between Iran and Argentina at cooperatives sector.

"Various cooperatives in different businesses are now operating in Iran and we are encouraging them to enter the export markets which will have positive impacts on the country's revenue. We support export of non-oil commodities," he said.

Iran is to export its experience in the fields of agriculture and fisheries to Argentina, he said.

Iran's Cooperative sector is to help promote export of non-oil goods and play a powerful presence at international market, he said.

The Argentine charge d'affaires, for his part, welcomed expansion of economic cooperation between the two countries and said his country is to benefit from Iran's experience in agriculture and fisheries.

WTO names Iran as world's handicrafts headquarters

Madrid,Feb 4, IRNA

Officials of the World Tourism Organization (WTO) have named Iran as the world's handicrafts headquarters, an Iranian official said on Monday.

The head of the Exhibitions Department at Iran's Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization Mohammad-Hossein Barzin said that the announcement was made in the course of the 28th International Tourism Trade Fair (FITUR 2008) in Madrid.

Barzin told IRNA that officials of WTO and Iran's Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization reached agreement during their talks to take the next steps in that connection in their upcoming negotiations.

Barzin said Iran's pavilion in the FITUR exhibit was distinctive compared to the previous fairs in terms of its decoration, adapted from the country's national and Islamic heritage.

He said during the five-day exhibition, about 40,000 promotional items on Iran's tourism attractions were presented to visitors in the form of books, brochures, catalogue and CDs.

Beijing,Feb, 4, IRNA

 

Qazvin exports dlrs 143 million industrial goods

Qazvin,Jan 20, IRNA

Iran-Qazvin-Export

Qazvin Provinces,s Commerce Organization reported that the province exported $143 million industrial commodities.

The merchandise has been dispatched to the 30 different countries, including Iraq, Afghanistan, Middle Asia countries, United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, Turkey, Netherlands and Russia, around the world, according to the report.

The major exported products consisted of washing machine powder, glass, ferro-molybdenum, tiles, motorcycles, iron, blankets, soft drinks, mineral water, concentrated stone, molybdenum oxide, lubricating oil, weaving products, raisins and dried fruits, copper bar and machine-made carpets.

Qazvin has imported dlrs 400 million worth of goods from abroad this year, the Commerce Organization said.

From profits of the exported commodities, rls 15 billion credit was allocated to the exporters of Qazvin last year.

Rls 23 billion credit will also be allocated to 40 exporters during the current year.

Iranian exports to Germany rose 50 percent last year

Berlin,Jan 9, IRNA

Germany-Iran-Exports

Iranian exports to Germany were up 50 percent in 2007 to reach 580 million euros, the business daily Handelsblatt reported Wednesday.

It cited the German Office for Foreign Trade (bfai) as saying that although German exports to Iran dropped for the second consecutive year, imports from Iran have risen almost 50 percent over the past years.

Meanwhile German exports to Iran fell 15 percent last year to around 3.5 billion euros.

The latest surprising trend in German-Iranian trade comes amid intense American and Israeli arm-twisting to force Berlin to reduce its business ties with Iran over the ongoing nuclear row with Iran.

German companies have stepped up their criticism of the German government for backing UN financial sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran, saying their business interests have been severely affected by the controversial political move.

The Managing Director of the Federation of German Wholesale and Foreign Trade (BGA) Jens Nagel called "unilateral sanctions (against Iran) totally incomprehensible", especially after the release of the recent US intelligence report which stressed that Tehran was not pursuing a nuclear weapons program.

Nagel voiced also growing concern that the German firms were gradually losing the lucrative Iranian market to Asian competitors.

The BGA official's assessment was echoed by the Managing Director of the German Near And Middle East Association (Numov) Helene Rang who made clear that a further tightening of sanctions against Iran would "not solve the problem."
"The sanctions are backfiring," she added.

The head of the Federation of German Industries (BDI), Juergen Thumann warned earlier that German companies are to lose their good business contacts with Iran which they have developed over decades as a result of the continuing political pressure.

Several renowned German companies are involved in major Iranian infrastructure projects, especially in the petrochemical sector, like Linde, BASF, Lurgi, Krupp, Siemens, ZF Friedrichshafen, Mercedes, Volkswagen and MAN.

Some 50 German firms have their own branch offices in Iran and more than 12,000 firms have their own trade representatives in the country.

The President of the Federation of German Wholesale and Foreign Trade (BGA) Anton F. Boerner has warned that Germany could be among the main losers of sanctions against Iran.

He stressed that sanctions would especially hurt medium-sized German companies, which depend heavily on trade with Iran.

Boerner made clear that the ongoing row over Tehran's nuclear program should be resolved through "political and not economic means." "We should avoid everything which might aggravate the crisis," he added.

Meanwhile, the German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) has repeatedly pointed out that economic sanctions on Iran may cost more than 10,000 German jobs and have a negative impact on the economic growth of Germany.

"Economic sanctions against Iran would not solve political problems, as the example of Iraq has shown dramatically. The German economy would be severely hit in an important growth market. The loss of business in Iran could threaten more than 10,000 jobs in Germany," the DIHK was quoted saying in a statement.

"If there were a real embargo, it would effectively kill off German trade with Iran," DIHK's Mideast expert Jochen Clausnitzer warned earlier.

More than 40,000 German jobs are indirectly affected by German- Iranian trade, a senior German official told IRNA, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Political observers in Berlin expect leading industry federations to increase their lobbying efforts against Iran sanctions as many heads of German companies enjoy close ties with the co-ruling party of Chancellor Angela Merkel - the Christian Democratic Union (CDU).

Domestic Software Successful in many countries

Tue, Jan 01, 2008 - Iran Daily

Rls30b for Export Support

Software produced in Iran has been warmly welcomed in target markets, said chairman of Software Exporters Union.

Speaking at the First Conference on Software Exports; Challenges and Opportunities on Monday, Fereydoun Entezari stated that some software programs designed by Iranian engineers are successfully being executed in countries in Europe, Americas, Central Asia and Persian Gulf as well as Afghanistan, IRIB reported.

He called on the government to support software producers and exporters by implementing the law on supporting software designers, improving quality of exported products, giving incentives (eight percent of total exports) to exporters and establishing a fund to guarantee software export.
The expert added that these incentives would motivate domestic companies to produce software based on the taste and needs of international customers.

“The government has set aside 30 billion rials for implementing a nine-chapter plan called ’supportive package’ to boost software exports.“

Entezari noted that the union has decided to send a team of information technology experts to Uzbekistan next month and set up Iran’s pavilion in the world’s biggest trade show for information and telecommunications technology CeBIT, Hanover, Germany (March 4-9).

He said that specialized delegations would be dispatched to target countries including Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, Malaysia, Syria and Venezuela during the coming Iranian year to March 2009 and an ICT exhibit would be held in Afghanistan to increase software exports.

Iran exported some $25 million worth of software products in 2006-7.

Meanwhile, head of Trade Promotion Organization of Iran has promised that software exports would have a significant share in total non-oil exports in the future.

Mehdi Ghazanfari stated that software exports can reach $40 million per annum as the figure rose to $25 million last year from the $250,000 in 2003.

Austria keen on investment in Qeshm, ambassador

Bandar Abbas, Hormuzgan Prov, Nov 29, IRNA

Investment-Austria-Iran

Austrian Ambassador to Tehran Michael Postl said on Thursday that his country's investors are interested in making investment on Iran's Free Trade Zones particularly in Qeshm Island.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony of an exhibition of historical photos of Iran and Austria in Qeshm, he added that the island has potential to promote industries, boost trade and attract tourists.

He stated that an Austrian delegation comprising businessmen and economic officials would visit Qeshm next week to get acquainted with its capabilities.

Managing Director of Qeshm Free Trade Zone Organization Mohammad Asghari, for his part, said that under current international circumstances, Austria is among countries which pays no attention to political pressure exerted by big powers and considers investment in Iran.

He added that the two sides reached agreements on Austria's investment in oil and gas projects in Qeshm.

Asghari stated that ground is prepared for domestic and foreign investors to make investment in Qeshm island in light of national plans implemented to develop Iran's economic, trade and cultural ties with the Persian Gulf states.

UNCTAD calls Iran trade regime report positive

TEHRAN, Sept. 16 (MNA) – The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) confirmed Iran’s trade regime report as positive, said the country’s plenipotentiary trade representative in the World Trade Organization (WTO) Sunday. Unlike other countries, Iran prepared its report without the help of foreign consultants, Esfandiar Omidbakhsh told MNA. He added the report was submitted to the WTO, facing no problem. He announced that the working group will be formed whenever the WTO orders. The Ministry of Commerce is the body that follows up Iran’s WTO membership. The UNCTAD was established in 1964 as a permanent intergovernmental body and is the principal organ of the United Nations General Assembly dealing with trade, investment and development issues. The organization's goals are to maximize the trade, investment, and development opportunities of developing countries and assist them in their efforts to integrate into the world economy on an equitable basis.

NK/KK END MNA