TEHRAN- The worth of mineral exports from Iran witnessed 41 percent rise during the first half of the current Iranian calendar year (March 20-September 21), compared to the same period in the previous year, IRNA reported on Monday citing Iranian Ministry of Industry, Mine, and Trade.

According to the released data, the country’s mineral exports stood at $576 million in the mentioned time, while the figure was $409 million in the first six months of the past year.

In terms of weight, the country’s mineral exports reached 12.8 million tons in the first half, 50 percent rise from 8.55 million tons in the same time span in the previous year.

Mehdi Karbasian, the head of Iranian Mines and Industries Development and Renovation Organizations (IMIDRO), announced in July that 34 mining and mineral industries projects will become operational in the country by his organization by the end of the current Iranian calendar year (March 20, 2017).

He put the worth of investment to complete the mentioned projects at $7.2 billion.

In early May, the IMIDRO head said that Iran offers $40 billion investment opportunities to the foreign entities for development of its mining sector.

HJ/MA