TEHRAN - The weight of exports from Iran’s clothing and textile industries increased by 12 percent in the first six months of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21-September 22), compared to the figure for the preceding year’s first half, a deputy with the Ministry of Industry, Mining and Trade said.

Mohammad-Mehdi Baradaran said the country’s petrochemical plants have increased their production of raw materials for the clothing industry and that has resulted in increasing the production of clothing and garments in the country, IRIB reported.

“According to the agreements made with the Textile Industries Association, National Petrochemical Company (NPC) increased its production, which reduced the price of yarn. However, since the cost of production in the clothing industry is high, each of this industry’s chains must reduce their costs in order for the final product, which is clothing, to become more competitive [considering foreign commodities],” Baradaran said.

Referring to the job-creating potential of clothing production units, the official said: “In the current year, over 422,000 jobs have been created in various industries, and some clothing units have seen a 20 percent increase in employment.”

He considered the export of clothing and the competitiveness of this industry as one of its advantages and said: “We will not let this industry go stagnant due to imports.”

The textile industry in Iran has a long history and is one of the most important sectors for employment.

This industry has a high employment potential, and the amount of foreign currency investment to create a job in the textile industry is very low compared to some industries such as automotive.

The value of exports from Iran’s clothing and textile industries in the previous Iranian calendar year 1400 increased by eight percent compared to the figure for the preceding year.

EF/MA