JAHROM, Fars Prov. - Industries Minister Gholamreza Shafei, here Tuesday called on Iranians to try to raise their share in gross global product by increasing the gross national product (GNP). Inaugurating Jahrom's wheat flour plant, he said although grounds have been prepared since the victory of the Islamic Revolution to build up the country, at present the development trend does not keep pace with the country's population growth rate and new investments are needed to be made in different sectors.

Underlining the importance of wheat and flour as the strategic products, he stressed that governments of the world are very sensitive to the production of these startegic products and try to maintain their control over wheat production and supply system. The country's annual need for wheat stands at 10 to 12 million tons, the industries minister said, adding that with the completion of current projects the flour production capacity of the country will amount to 24 million tons yearly.

The Jahrom Wheat Flour Plant is one of the largest of its kind in the Middle East, which has been constructed at a total cost of Rls.15 billion plus 5 million marks. Fars Province is able to annually produce 1.5-1.6 million tons of wheat of which 700,000 tons are consumed in the province. (IRNA) am113.doc