TEHRAN – Despite the imposed global sanctions, Iran’s annual trade value has been raised by $13.5 billion in the previous Iranian calendar year (ended March 20), the Trade Promotion Organization of Iran’s Managing Director Hamid Safdel said here on Tuesday.

The official did not mention the total value of exports.
Iran’s exports to European countries also faced 1.5 percent increase during the mentioned time span, IRNA reported.
The TPOI deputy director said in March that the country aims at $45 billion worth of non-oil exports in the current Iranian calendar year.
Kiyumars Fathollah Kermanshahi added that $10 billion dollars services including $3.3 billion dollars technical and engineering services have been reckoned for the year.
He pointed out that with the 12 percent increase in non-oil exports next year, import and export to and from the country will reach equilibrium which is a praiseworthy success for the country.
The official had earlier said that service exports include technical and engineering projects, tourism, IT services, transportation, etc.
He pointed out that the rising trend of non-oil exports from Iran indicates that it will exceed $40 billion by the end of the Iranian calendar year.
Kermanshahi noted the 149 percent increase in non-oil exports during the 4th Five-Year Social-Economic Development Plan (2005-2010) is also noteworthy.
He explained 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.