TEHRAN — Iran’s horticultural products will be increased by 5 million tons during the Fourth Five-Year Development Plan. The amount of the products will be increased to over 19 million tons in 2009.

The horticultural products were produced as much as 14 million tons in 2004.

Also, the areas under cultivation of the horticultures will reach nearly 3 million hectares in the Fourth Development Plan. This is an increase by 510,000 hectares from the current areas under cultivation.

Bushehr exports 2m tons of goods in 10 months

BUSHEHR – In the past ten months of the current Iranian year (March 21, 2005-January 20, 2006), some 1.9 million tons of goods were exported from this southern province.

The volume was worth $407.5 million. It showed 11.5% increase in terms of weight compared to the corresponding period last year. The total volume of exports via the customs offices of Bushehr Province set the third highest rate among all 165 offices across the country. Ironware, petrochemicals, building materials, animal products, and fruits and vegetables were listed as the main exported commodities. In the same period, the customs offices of Bushehr registered import of 676,000 tons of goods at $730 million. Road construction and industrial machinery, electrical equipment, and agricultural machinery comprised the lions’ share of the imported volume.

Cement production in N. Khorasan to increase 14-fold

BOJNURD, North Khorasan Prov. – As new cement production projects come into line in Bojnurd and other parts of North Khorasan, the cement production capacity in this province will move up 14-fold.

Currently, some 2,000 tons of cement is produced in this northeastern province every day. This will attain 28,000 tons upon completion of those projects. The development plan of Bojnurd Cement Plant is estimated to be completed in the next two years, increasing the plant’s daily output from 2,000 to 5,300 tons. Three other cement plants will be built in Esfarayen, Samangan, and Shirvan, each with a daily production capacity of 10,000 tons. As the initial investment, some 750 billion rials has been allocated for the project in Esfarayen, which will be operational in 2008. The construction of Shirvan Cement Plant started last year as a joint venture between the Iranian private sector and two Chinese companies.

Esfarayen Steel Complex exports exceed 3,000 tons

ESFARAYEN, North Khorasan Prov. – The Esfarayen Steel Complex exported more than 3,000 tons of its products since the beginning of the current Iranian year (March 21, 2005).

The exported volume, which was mainly destined for Germany, India, and Italy, brought the company about two million euros. The company has also planned to export 6,000 tons of its products at four million euros until June 2006. In the next Iranian year (starts March 21), Esfarayen Steel Complex will export 10,200 tons of steel products at 12.7 million euros.

Iran to exchange tourists with Mexico

TEHRAN – For the first time ever in their history, Iran and Mexico will exchange tourists directly.

A Mexican tourism delegation is now in Iran to assess Iran’s tourism attractions and management. The two countries are expected to sign a contract in the coming days in order to facilitate the process of tourist exchanges. Tourism officials of Iran and Mexico held initial talks in Madrid during the 26th edition of Spain’s International Tourism Exhibition FITUR.