More than 1.9 quadrillion rials ($16.23 billion) worth of investments are estimated to be made in the industrial units, for which establishment permits were issued and 384.36 trillion rials ($3.28 billion) were invested in projects for which operating license were issued during the first eight months of the current Iranian year (March 21-Nov. 21).
These investments indicate a respective growth of 88% and 97.6% compared with the similar period of last year, the latest report released by the Ministry of Industries, Mining and Trade shows.
Establishment Permits
A total of 14,683 establishment permits were issued over the eight months, registering a 19.9% growth year-on-year. These projects are expected to create a total of 343,660 jobs, which is 23% more compared with last year's corresponding period.
Semnan Province with 1,127, Khorasan Razavi Province with 1,118 and Fars Province with 1,020 had the largest share of the establishment permits issued during the period.
Khuzestan Province, with more than 173.98 trillion rials (over $1.48 billion) worth of estimated investment for 577 establishment permits, attracted the highest amount of investments.
The number of establishment permits issued for industrial units located in free trade and special economic zones grew by 63.6% to 234. Over 314 trillion rials ($2.68 billion) worth of investments are estimated to be made in these projects to generate 11,067 jobs to register a 183.8% and 66.1% YOY growth respectively.
The field of foodstuff and beverages saw the highest number of establishment permits (2,069) to create the highest number of jobs among other fields (49,714).
The highest amount of investment in these units is expected to be made in projects related to the production of coke- and oil-derived products (657.77 trillion rials or $5.61 billion). The volume accounts for 34.6% of all investments to be made in projects, for which establishment permits were issued over the period.
Operating License
Meanwhile, 3,663 operating licenses were issued during the same period, which shows a 2.1% growth YOY. These projects are expected to create 67,529 jobs, 6.9% more compared with last year's corresponding period.
Isfahan Province with 377, East Azarbaijan Province with 270 and Alborz Province with 253 had the biggest share of all operating licenses issued during the eight months.
Hormozgan Province, with more than 193.28 trillion rials ($1.65 billion) for operating 62 industrial projects, attracted the highest volume of investments. This accounted for 50.3% of all the investments made in the projects for which operating licenses were issued.
Khuzestan Province, with more than 173.98 trillion rials ($1.48 billion) attracted the highest volume of estimated investments for to-be established industrial units and Hormozgan Province with 193.28 trillion rials ($1.65 billion) attracted the highest amount of investments in projects for which operating licenses were issued
The number of operating licenses issued for industrial projects located in free trade and special economic zones stood at 200, indicating a 14.9% growth YOY. More than 22.18 trillion rials ($189.46 million) worth of investments were made in these projects to create 5,531 jobs, registering a 372.7% and 76.6% growth respectively YOY.
The field of rubber and plastic production saw the highest number of operating licenses, namely 589.
Projects in the field of foodstuff and drinkables for which operating licenses were issued created the highest number of jobs (9,479).
The highest volume of investments in this regard were made in projects related to coke and oil derivatives production (207.27 trillion rials or $1.77billion), accounting for 53.9% of all the investments made in industrial units for which operating licenses were issued.
The number of greenfield projects for which operating licenses were issued stood at 2,007, some 160 of which were for those located in free trade and special economic zones. The remaining 1,734 permits were issued for the operation of brownfield projects, 40 of which were located in FTZs and special economic zones.
25% Decline in Mineral Exploitation Permits
A total of 375 mineral exploitation permits were issued during the eight months, registering a 25% fall compared with the similar period of last year, the report showed.
These exploitation permits are expected to create 2,846 jobs, which indicate a 29.9% decline year-on-year.
The nominal mineral extraction capacity of the projects stands at 12.51 million tons, which shows a 61.2% decrease compared with the corresponding period of last year.
Khorasan Razavi Province with 33, South Khorasan and Yazd provinces with 26 each and Khuzestan Province with 24 had the largest share of the exploitation permits issued during the period.
Mineral exploitation permits issued over the eight months are expected to create the highest number of jobs in South Khorasan Province (340), Isfahan Province (225), Kerman Province (217) and Sistan-Baluchestan Province (207).
The provinces of Khuzestan, Hormozgan and East Azarbaijan with more than 2.01 million tons, 966,600 tons and 787,300 tons had the highest volume of nominal extraction capacities.
Also, according to the report, 675 exploration permits were issued over the eight-month period to register a 6.6% increase YOY.
Exploration costs stood at more than 389.8 billion rials (over $3.32 million), registering a 0.6% decrease YOY.
