Mass production of national diesel engine begins in 3 years

TEHRAN – Iran’s domestically-produced diesel engine will reach mass production in three years, the Iran Khodro Co. engine research division managing director said here on Tuesday.
“Research on the design and production of a diesel engine was initiated in the middle of the previous (Iranian calendar) year (March 2007-March 2008) in line with the Oil Ministry’s policies to distribute suitable fuel for diesel engines,” Mohammad Zali added.
The engine will have a capacity of 1.5 or 1.6 liters and will meet Euro 5 standards.
------- One-digit unemployment rates in one third of Iran’s provinces
ISFAHAN – One third of Iran’s provinces reached one-digit unemployment rates in the previous year Iranian calendar year (ended March 20, 2008), the director general for human resources and census affairs at Iran’s statistics center said on Tuesday.
The country’s unemployment rate was 11.5 percent in 1384 (March 2005-March 2006) while this figure declined to 10.5 percent in 1386 (2007-08) Taha Nourollahi explained, IRNA reported.
--------Kordestan stands 6th in non-oil exports
SANANDAJ – Kordestan Province stood 6th in the country in non-oil exports in the previous Iranian calendar year, Kordestan Province Governor Ismail Najar said on Tuesday.
Some $489 million worth of non-oil products were exported and transited through the province last year.
“This success is because of the official recognition of Bashmagh Marivan Custom House,” IRNA quoted him as saying.
Over 59,000 tons of non-oil products worth approximately $129 million were transited and 544,000 tons worth $361 million were exported through the province in the previous Iranian year.
This shows a 17 percent rise in volume and a 40 percent increase in value compared to the year before