TEHRAN -- President Mohammad Khatami here on Saturday underlined the need for wider cooperation between the Geology and Mine Exploration Organization and international scientific bodies.

He made the remark while talking to the head and personnel of the organization following a two-hour inspection tour of the center.

The Iranian president urged full use of the scientific and research achievements of the organization toward full exploitation of the country's economic potentials.

Since the industry and mines sector is a major sources of income, effective management of the Geology and Mine Exploration Organization will contribute much toward increasing the national income, he added.

President Khatami further called for more investments in the mines and minerals sector, said IRNA.

Although geology is a new field in Iran, Iranian geologists have already achieved much in this field, he pointed out.

Turning to the country's vulnerability to natural disasters, notably floods and earthquakes, he said increasing the nation's knowledge in geology may help prevent problems arising from the occurrence of natural disasters.

Before Khatami delivered his speech, the minister of industries and mines gave a brief survey of the state of the country's mines and natural resources.

A total of 130 million tons of minerals and other substances were exploited from the country's mines in the previous Iranian year ended March 20, 2003), he said, adding that the increase in mineral production was due to the greater self-sufficiency of the mineral industries and the increase in mineral exports.