Tehran Times cited Mr Ahmad Khadem ol Mellah deputy industries and mines minister Iran as saying that industrial and mineral exports has risen 286% during the fourth development plan compared to the preceding 5 year plan.

Mr Ahmad Khadem said the figure has gone up from USD 16.5 billion in the third Five Year Soci Economic Development Plan to USD 64 billion in the fourth plan. He said that despite foreign pressure, 125 current industrial and mineral projects of Iran in 27 countries are worth USD 3.5 billion.

Meanwhile, Mr Kiyumars Fathollah Kermanshahi deputy director of the Trade Promotion Organization of Iran said that the country aims at USD 45 billion worth of non oil exports in the new Iranian calendar year.

Mr Kermanshahi pointed out that with the 12% increase in non oil exports next year, import and export to and from the country will reach equilibrium which is a notable success for the country. He pointed out that the rising trend of non oil exports from Iran indicates that it will exceed USD 40 billion by the end of the Iranian calendar year.

He reiterated that the country made such progress in the face of threats, sanctions and the repercussions of the global financial crises that obstructed Iran’s exports to some degree.