TEHRAN – Iran’s Ministry of Industry, Mining and Trade has outlined new measures to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in boosting their exports, according to the Small Industries and Industrial Parks Organization (ISIPO).

Ahmad Javanmardi, director of market development and international affairs at the organization, said SMEs play a key role in production but often lack specialized export, trade and exhibition departments. To overcome this, the ministry is encouraging the formation of export management companies and specialized intermediaries to connect domestic producers with international markets.

He noted that Iran exported $57 billion worth of goods in 2024, with $29 billion from petrochemicals, $14 billion from mining and minerals, $9.0 billion from industry and nearly $6.0 billion from agriculture.

While the average export value stood at $381 per ton, industrial exports reached over $1,100 per ton, highlighting their higher added value compared with raw materials.

Javanmardi said the ministry is forming export consortia to bring together small producers with complementary products, enabling them to enter foreign markets as unified companies.

“Exports must be sustained and long-term, not occasional,” he said, adding that business clusters are also being steered toward global markets.

He pointed to ongoing programs such as the SPX (Subcontractor Exchange) system to integrate SMEs into engineering and technical projects abroad, and efforts to help firms meet international standards. Each year, around 5,000 companies benefit from financial and non-financial support for trade fair participation, with one in five focusing on foreign exhibitions.

Javanmardi also cited a recent case where an Iranian fisheries delegation traveled to Vietnam, securing solutions to common aquaculture diseases while opening new avenues for long-term export cooperation.

EF/MA