Car Production Comes Out of Negative Growth

IRAN NEWS ECONOMIC DESK

TEHRAN – Acting Minister of Industry, Mine and Trade Hossein Modarres Khiabani says the car production in the first four months of the current year has grown by 19 percent and after two years, the car industry has come out of negative growth.

Speaking to IRNA, Modarres Khiabani said that after pullout of French and South Korean auto-makers and reimposition of the U.S. sanctions, nobody thought that Iran could continue its way but the industry has planned to produce 1.2m cars by the yearend.

He added that last year, 831,234 vehicles were produced in the country which shows 13 percent decline comparing to the preceding year.

Modarres Khiabani reiterated that this year the car production has been accelerated as the industry sees positive growth in production after two years of slump.

He also pointed to the growth in the cement production which has been 15 percent comparing to the early days of the Islamic Revolution.

Modarres Khiabani, who has been designated by President Hassan Rouhani as the new minister of industry, Mine and Trade, added that production in petrochemical sector has been doubled comparing to 2012 and the production in the textile and apparel sector has also been doubled during President Rouhani’s presidency.

He further said till ten years ago, Iran was importer of cooler and air-conditioner but today it produces 75 percent of its needs.

He also pointed to 49 percent growth in the aluminum production in the first four months, last year the aluminum production was enhanced to 750,000 tons which was twice the previous capacity.

Modarres Khiabani noted that the ministry is planning to inaugurate the first TV panel production in the country in the Government Week.

He added during the week, a refrigerator and freezer production unit with capacity of producing 300 sets will be inaugurated in Qom.

Next week Majlis is to hold a session for giving vote of confidence to the designated minister to take the job.