TEHRAN – Iranian private sector has invested over 3.65 trillion rials (about $367.3 million) in domestic ports development projects in the three months period ending on June 21, the Ports and Maritime Organization director stated here on Saturday.

IRNA quoted Ali Taheri Motlaq as saying that the figure was significantly higher than the amount invested in the same period last year.
The investments were mainly made in Imam Khomeini and Shahid Rajaee ports, the official said.
The private sector invested more than one trillion rials in development projects last calendar year (ended March 20, 2009), he said, adding that half of the project have come on stream.
Shahid Rajaiee Port, southern Hormozgan province, has the shipment capacity of 3.3 million twenty-foot-equivalent units (TEU). In 2008, the volume of shipment amounted to two million TEU, placing the port at the 60th rank among the world's largest ports.
Taheri added that the Ports and Maritime Organization has signed agreements with 34 shipping lines and 22 liner shipping services have launched routes to Shahid Rajaee Port.