TEHRAN -- The country's textile exports during the first two months of the current Iranian year (March 21-May 21, 2002) shows a 30percent increase compared with the figure reported for the same period last year, the Director General of the Textile and Cloth Department of the Ministry of Industries and Mines, Golnaz Nassrollahi, was quoted by the Farsi daily **Abrar-e Eqtesadi** .

Speaking on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Atlas Poud Textile Company, Nassrollahi said that last year the country exported $220 million worth of textiles, the figure indicating a 6percent rise compared with the figure of the preceding year, IRNA reported.

She said statistics indicate that the country's textile industry has remarkably contributed to the creation of jobs and better performance of the non-oil exports sector, said the official.

In order to boost current capabilities, the textile industry should cooperate with European markets," she advised.