TABRIZ, E.Azarbaijan Some 11,000 various kinds of products are currently being exported from this northwestern province, it was announced here on Wednesday.

Sadeq Najafi, the provincial director-general for trade, said that the variety of goods exported by the province has increased by 4,000 compared to that of four years ago.

East Azarbaijan Province has earned the reputation of being the dean of export-producing provinces in the past four years, he said, adding that some 2,500 businessmen and traders are currently active in the export business.

He put the value of goods exported from the province since the beginning of the current Iranian year (March 21) at $33 million, exceeding that of the preceding year.

But, "Iran's share in world trade is a meager 0.38 percent," he regretted, adding that lack of modern marketing techniques is the main reason for the country's poor record in international trade.

Commenting on the various economic and trade problems faced by the country, the official called on Iranian businessmen to become more familiar with today's trading techniques.