TEHRAN Minister of Mines and Metals Es'haq Jahangiri Sunday attended a session in which progress in the operations to explore gold within the country and future programs of the Geology and Mining Exploration Organization were reviewed.
Exploration operations have been launched in 13 regions in the country upon the information gathered through satellite as well as geo-chemical and geo-physical data collected regionally.
Appreciating the measures so far taken by the above-mentioned organization, the participants in the session studied cooperation of the public sector in the implementation of larger projects for the realization of targets stipulated in the Third Five-Year Development Plan (2000-2005) in the mining and metals sector.
Meanwhile, study shows that last year India exported over $8.25 billion worth of various jewelry to the world which was twice as many as Iran's total no-oil exports.
Statistics released by the World Gold Council said that in the first 8 months of the current year India by producing over 680 tons of various jewelry made of gold, stood top on the list of the producers of golden ornamental objects.
During the same period Italy, the U.S. and Turkey produced and exported 520, 320 and 190 tons of gold-made jewelry respectively.
India has also made an outstanding progress in the filed of cutting diamond in recent years, thus reducing the share of the Zionist regime in the world market in this connection.
Despite the fact that the Zionist regime is deprived of having diamond mines itself, however, its jewelers cut the largest portion of the diamond produced in South Africa and grabbed the biggest share in the world market in this connection.
Statistics available on major world exporters of jewelry and precious stones well attest to Iran's weak position with regard to the production and export of commodities in this sector.
Iran's weakness in this field is being noticed at a time when various Iranian handicrafts, including hand-woven carpet, are known internationally.
Handicrafts, especially ornamental objects depicting the art and culture of a specific regional of the world, will leave positive effects in the encouragement and boosting of tourism industry.
The traditional Istanbul market with hundreds of jewelry shops is a clear example in this connection that has been turned into a major rendezvous for tourists from around the world.
The jewelry industry that has guaranteed the highest amount of value added also creates an outstanding number of job opportunities as compared to other industries as its demands proficiency and Iranians have proven to be highly smart in it.
An expert with the Asian gemology institute recently reported on the possibility of finding diamond, ruby and emerald in Iran but so far no practical step has been taken for exploitation of such precious stones.
At any rate, some experts believe that absence of a general culture on the importance of production and export of jewelry is the main obstacle hindering development of the industry. However, they express their hope that with optimum presentation of the country's possibilities, employment of the Iranian art, and within a time-tabled schedule, Iran will become a venue for production and export of jewelry in the world.
Perhaps the setting up of the first international exhibition of precious stones, jewelry, watches and ornamental handicrafts in the Iranian month of Azar (Nov 21-Dec 21) can provide a good opportunity whereby importance of this sector will be further demonstrated in promotion of non-oil exports as well as in representing another aspect of Iranian art and culture to the world.
(IRNA)