The need to review the export boom strategies of the mining industry
An activist in the decorative and construction stone industry: Today, domestic sanctions are more or less the same as foreign ones, damaging the country's export process, and the executive plans of service providers related to export growth must be reviewed.
According to the International Iranian Stone Exhibition, "Spanta Daneshmand" added: "The Islamic Republic of Iran is among the top five producers of decorative stone and building facades in the world, but in terms of exports, we have not been able to achieve a position commensurate with our capabilities and capabilities." Let's bring.
He pointed out: "Proximity to export bases is one of the important factors today, and in the world, transportation and transportation costs play an effective role in trade competition."
A market of more than $ 20 billion
"Studies show that the value of global market trade in this sector is more than $ 20 billion annually, but Iran does not use this market in proportion to its capacities and capabilities," he said. Unofficial statistics show that Iran has a capacity of 30 million tons in the production of raw stones (coupe), which now has a production capacity of about one third.
The scientist stated: China has the largest share in the market of decorative and facade stones, which is more than 35%, but for Iran it is estimated at 1%.
The value of Iranian stone exports
The Ministry of Industry, Mines and Trade has not provided official statistics on the value of Iran's export of decorative stones and facades, but estimates are estimated at $ 200 million to $ 350 million, which is also a decrease under sanctions and the corona.
The scientist added: "The diversity of Iranian stone in terms of color and quality has always been a factor in global markets, but these capabilities have not been properly used and the opportunities ahead have been left to competitors."
Stone mines and processing plants
Iran has more than two thousand decorative stone and masonry mines, of which more than 1,200 are active mines and the rest have been closed for various reasons, while the number of stone processing factories is about 6,500, of which about 15% of these units are for various reasons. Such as machine wear and other related issues have been shut down.
The scientist stated: Iran has the ability to supply five million square meters of processed stone to global markets annually, but the realization of this important issue requires a bed, which is one of the important factors in supporting investment.
He said: "Competition in international markets requires having factors accepted by the world, the most important of which is having standards and using modern machines."
Invest in free trade zones
The Secretary of the Supreme Council of Free and Special Economic Zones had previously said: "Formulation of special investment incentives and packages, assistance to the private sector and confidence in the ability of investors are among the priorities set to achieve the desired index in the production of Iranian goods."
"Morteza Bank" reminded that the structure and programs of free zones will be operational in order to increase production and export development, and considered the use of new methods to cause sustainable income in free zones.
He assessed the distance from the sale of land and the waiver of tolls by replacing new methods with the security of economic activities and investment.
The scientist explained about investing in Chabahar Free Zone: planning to build a stone cutting factory with an annual capacity of one million square meters, 80% of which will go to export markets and the rest will be consumed domestically, with an investment of 52 million Euros with participation. The Italian side had predicted that in September 2017, 9 hectares of land would be allocated.
He added: "The employment rate for the unit was 125 direct and 250 indirect, with the defined goal of attracting 75% of the indigenous force with a characteristic of 50% women."
Advantages of Chabahar
The scientist stated: It was expected that this unit of mining industry would be completed and put into operation within 24 months from the time of handing over the land, but the international conditions caused the Italian side to withdraw from this project.
He said: "It was expected that Chabahar would be out of the scope of sanctions and the connection to the mainland and the important factor of transportation and connection to the ocean would have the advantage of investment, but the problems of energy supply, foreign exchange investment and investment from resources Internal and the series of obstacles facing this connection.
The decorative stone industry activist added: "The intention was for the loan of this project to be in foreign currency and to be repaid in foreign currency, but this did not happen and the referral to the facilities of internal resources, including the Bank of Industry and Mines, was not responsible."
He pointed out that the bureaucracy to provide resources by the banking system wasted a lot of time and there was no tool to accelerate this important.
The scientist said: "Now, more than three years have passed since the transfer of the land and the plan was not completed. It is a sphere of authority and this is the reality that lies ahead.
According to the report, Chabahar is the only ocean port in Iran, one of the key points on the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman and has an important position in the north-south corridor. This port is located in the east-west transit route and has various economic and geographical emergencies in the field of transit and transhipment.
* IRNA
