TEHRAN – More than 2,000 billion rials is needed for importing soybean in the next Iranian year (starts March 21, 2006).

In a ten-month period since the beginning of the current Iranian year (March 21, 2005-January 20, 2006), some 285,567 tons of oil was extracted out of 1.36 million tons of oilseeds in the country. In the same period, Iran imported more than 112,000 tons of soybean cakes, while import of soy is expected to reach 1.5 million tons in the next Iranian year.

Iranian investors to contribute to construction of Iraqi FTZ

TEHRAN – Iranians will be invited to take part in a project that includes the construction of an international free trade zone in Suleymaniye of Iraq.

“Iraq’s foreign investment law expresses no preference for the local investors over foreigners,” said an Iraqi Kurd official. The enforcement of this law as of 2004 has resulted in collecting one billion dollars of foreign investment in the same year. The free trade zone in Suleymaniye will cover an area of five million square meters. The Iraqi Kurdistan has already become a regional trade hub, the official stated. “We would like to invite Iranian companies to an international food industry exhibition that will be held here from May 8-13 this year,” he added.

UNDP to help Iran, Italy in large aquaculture project

ZAHEDAN, Sistan-Baluchestan Prov. – The United Nations Development Program is expected to contribute to a 3-million-euro aquaculture project in this southeastern Iranian province.

The project, which is aimed at reviving of the aquatic reserves of the Lake Hamun as well as breeding of new species in the local fish ponds and farms, will be implemented by Iranian and Italian experts. It will last for three years. The Centro Italiano Ricerche Studi per la Pesca (CIRSPE) is in charge of executing this project and in this regard Mr. Roberto Ugolini has been selected by Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Italy to coordinate with Iranian side.

Khorasan Petrochemicals brings about 523,000 tons of urea fertilizer

BOJNURD, North Khorasan Prov. – The Khorasan Petrochemical Complex has produced some 523,000 tons of urea fertilizers since the beginning of the current Iranian year (March 21, 2005).

The factory has also produced 331,000 tons of ammonia fertilizers in the same period. The factory’s output has set 16% increase compared to its nominal capacity. This year’s production of urea and ammonia fertilizers in this complex is estimated to reach 570,000 tons and 360,000 tons, respectively. The factory is located 17 kilometers east of Bojnurd.

‘The Future of Iran’s Forests’ discussed in Karaj seminar

KARAJ, Tehran – A national seminar on the future of Iran’s forests kicked off in Karaj yesterday.

Experts present at the gathering aim at drawing in three days a comprehensive plan to save the forest lands of the country by means of afforestation and forest management. The seminar had received 140 articles of which 45 were selected to be presented as speeches and posters.

Mazandaran exports 176,000 tons of goods

SARI, Mazandaran Prov. — Some 176,000 tons of commodities were exported from northern Mazandaran Province in the first ten months of the current Iranian year (started March 21, 2005), Soleiman Alijan-Nejad, the director of the Public Relations Office of Mazandaran Commerce Department said on Monday.

He put the value of the exported goods at nearly $43 million, saying, the exported goods indicate growth as much as 97 percent in weight and 27 percent in value compared with the corresponding period last year.

He noted that the exported goods included citruses, flowers and plants, vegetable oil, soft drinks, potato, concentrates, and juices.

Over $112m of goods exported from Markazi Province

ARAK, Markazi Prov. — Some 200,000 tons cargos valued at over $112 million were exported via the customs offices of Markazi Province since the beginning of the present Iranian year on March 21, 2005, Mahmud Shariat, the director general of Customs Administration of the province said on Monday.

This year’s export has increased by 43 percent and 50 percent in terms of weight and value respectively compared with the corresponding period last year, he noted.

The director general named copper granola, sanitary taps, aluminum sheets, tiles, oil, tar, telecommunication cables among the cargos exported in the said period. The goods were exported to 30 countries.