TEHRAN- Head of Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization Mehdi Karbasian announced that 24 mining projects worth over $1 billion will be put into operation during the first half of the current Iranian calendar year (ending on September 22), Mehr news agency reported on Saturday.

Iran’s worth of minerals and mining exports stood at $6 billion in the past Iranian calendar year (which ended on March 20), IRNA quoted Deputy Industry, Mining and Trade Minister Jafar Sarqini as saying on April 4.
Underlining the role of mines in the prosperity of national economy, the official also announced that mines have created 12,500 job opportunities and mining industries account for creation of 6,500 jobs in the country during the past year.
The share of mining sector in Iran’s gross domestic product (GDP) will be increased to 1.5 percent in the Sixth National Development Plan (2016-2021) from the current figure of 1.1 percent, Sarqini told IRNA on March 24.
Mining and minerals sector has all necessary qualities specified by “Resistance Economy” and is of high value added, the official highlighted.

MA/MG