TEHRAN- Through supportive measures taken by the government, some 201 industrial units that had stopped their activity resumed their operation during the first quarter of current Iranian calendar year (March 21-June 21), Iranian deputy industry minister announced.

Sadeq Najafi, who is also the managing director of Iran Small Industries and Industrial Parks Organization (ISIPO), further said that there are 84,000 industrial and production units in the country at present, IRNA reported.

Referring to the 350 trillion-rial (about $8.13 billion) facilities with 10-percent interest rate allocated to the small and medium-sized entrepreneurs (SMEs), the official said these facilities should be paid to the units that can continue their activity.

Najafai also told IRNA on Sunday that 36 Iranian SMEs attracted above $2.3 billion of foreign investments during the previous Iranian calendar year 1396 (ended on March 20, 2018).

He added that Iran has attraction of investments and modern technology among its top priorities and under the conditions that the country is trying to deal with the U.S.-led economic pressures, SMEs can act as suitable means to absorb foreign investments.

MA/MA