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Aktuelle Hinweise Iran 01.09.2014

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Aktuelle Hinweise Iran 01.09.2014 01. September 2014 Aktuelle Hinweise IRAN: Non-oil exports up by 20.83% in first 5 months of the Iranian year. Trade volume reaches USD 41 billion and 620 million As per the latest figures released by the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration USD 19 billion and 639 million of goods have been exported and USD 21 billion and 981 million of goods have been imported into the country during the first five months of the Iranian calendar year (starting March 21, 2014). The data show an increase of 20.83% for non-oil exports and of 33.59% for imports compared to the same time last year. The largest shares of goods were imported from Iran by China, Iraq, UAE, Afghanistan and India. The main Iranian export products included liquefied propane, liquefied methanol and butane. The goods Iran imported most of were wheat with a share of 4.97%, vehicles with internal combustion piston engine (more than 1500cc) with 3.66%, rice with 3.47%, corn with 2.63%, and soy meal with 2.42%. The main exporters of goods to Iran were UAE, China, India, South Korea and Turkey respectively. Indigenous automobile production reaches 400k in five months The Iranian automobile production has reached about 405,000 during the first five months of the Iranian calendar year (beginning on March 21, 2014). This corresponds with an increase of 74.3% compared to the same time last year. Eight different automobile models were mainly produced by Iran’s two largest manufacturers SAIPA (Société Anonyme Iranienne de Production Automobile) and IKCO (Iran Khodro). Iran inaugurates its largest solar power plant Iran has officially inaugurated its biggest solar power plant in the city of Malard in Alborz Province. The plant has a production capacity of 514 kw/h of electricity, around twice the capacity of the second biggest solar plant in Shiraz. Attending the inauguration ceremony, H.E. Mohammad Shariatmadari, Vice President for Executive Affairs highlighted the significance of new energies in Iran, invited the private sector to invest and reiterated the readiness of the government to support endeavors in this sector. Iran claims to be the world’s 14th biggest owner of solar power plants. Previously, H.E. Hamid Chitchian, Iranian Energy Minister, had promised the government would allocate loans equal to half of the cost of constructing renewable power plants to the private sector. Iran currently trades power with Turkey, Armenia, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Syria, and Iraq. The country seeks to become a major regional electricity exporter. Iranian industrial growth rate up to 2% According to Deputy Industry Minister H.E. Ja’far Sarqini the industrial growth rate in Iran has significantly improved from minus 10% in the previous year to 2% in the current Iranian calendar year which started on March 21, 2014. H.E. President Hassan Rouhani’s policies of reducing energy subsidies along with the easing of international sanctions are named as the main reasons for the rebound of the Iranian industry and the stabilization of the county’s currency by the International Monetary Fund. The IMF is expecting the Iranian economy to expand by 1.5% in 2014 after two years of negative growth. Swedish investors turn to petrochemical industry in Ilam province After meeting with H.E. Hamid Reza Shakeri Niasar, Iranian ambassador to Sweden, the Governor General of Western Iranian Ilam Province, Mohammad Reza Morvarid reported Swedish investors’ willingness to invest in Ilam by constructing a petrochemical plant in the city of Chardaval. Morvarid expressed his readiness to cooperate with potential investors and stated that the province presents favourable conditions and infrastructure for foreign companies. Iranian steel company Mobarekeh (MSC) sets new record in the production of direct-reduced iron (DRI) With the production of 127,359 tons of direct-reduced iron (DRI) during July 23-August 22, this year, Mobarakeh Steel Company (MSC) set a new record in the field. MSC produces six million tons of crude steel annually and is one of the largest industrial complexes operating in Iran and the Middle East. Manager of the company’s iron production section, Rahim Abdi, also said the previous record was reached during May 22-June 22 when MSC produced 122,405 tons of DRI. The Pelletizing Unit of MSC produced 14.3 million tons of iron pellets during March 21-August 22, which represents a 10% rise compared with the corresponding figure of last year. Iran welcoming Qatari investments "The Islamic Republic of Iran hails investment of Qatari companies and private sector," said Iranian First Vice President H.E. Eshaq Jahangiri in a meeting with the Minister of Information and Communications Technology in Qatar H.E. Hessa al-Jaber here in Tehran. He also said Iran faces no limitation for development of ties and cooperation with Qatar, adding Iran would completely support agreements made between ministries of communications and information technology. H.E. Hessa al-Jaber, for her part, called Iran-Qatar ties 'strong', and said, "Iran and Qatar have enormous fields for advancement of joint cooperation." Jägerstr. 63 a/d, D - 10117 Berlin + 49 (0)30 - 206410-0 + 49 (0)30 - 206410-10 [email protected] Internet: www.numov.de Gründungsjahr / Year of Foundation: 1934 Vorsitzender / Chairman: Dr. Rainer Seele Geschäftsführender Vorstand / CEO: Helene Rang Ehrenvorsitzender / Honorary Chairman: Bundeskanzler a.D. Gerhard Schröder .
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