Some banks do not support manufacturers
Sayed Hamed Qomashi: Many stone industry activists cannot provide the cash they need from banks.
According to Iran's International Stone Exhibition, Seyed Hamed Ghomashi, a member of the Miners' Association of Markazi Province, said: One of the major problems of stone industry activists is the lack of liquidity. The government has repeatedly stated that it supports manufacturers, but this is not the case in banks.
He added: "Banks do not offer any concessions to producers and activists of the stone industry and we, like other citizens, should use high-interest loans, which is not affordable for the producer at all."
He added: "The bank does not value mining licenses and must get a property document to get a loan."
He said: "Many stone industry activists now have to lease the equipment they need because they cannot afford the cash they need from the bank."
Activist with a history of the stone industry said: Using loans with high interest rates and leasing equipment will raise the final price of stone and cause inflation. Granite is one of the reasons we stay away from global markets.
"Iraq is one of the very good customers of Iran's stone," he said, referring to Iran's large capacity for stone export. Iraqi customers buy more Chinese and marble stones that are cheaper than other stones.
He considered one of the serious competitors of Iran in the issue of exports to Turkey and continued: Turkey is very active in the stone industry and will bring some stones to the customer at a much lower price. One of the most important characteristics of the Turkish stone industry is its stability and price stability.
He said: Iran has the best travertine stone in the world and many countries in the world are deprived of this blessing. Even Turkey does not have rich travertine ores and cannot compete with us on this land.
"We have not yet been able to identify travertine in a way that is desirable," he said. With world-wide advertising and information we can create a very promising future for the Iranian stone industry.
* Tehran Sama
