A total of 2.72 quadrillion rials ($10.66 billion) worth of investment were made in industrial units with establishment permits, while projects with operating licenses are estimated to have received 511.95 trillion rials ($1.97 billion) in the first seven months of the current Iranian year (March 20-Oct. 21).
Investment volumes in units with establishment permits and operating licenses show a respective growth rate of 48% and 105.2% 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 22,045 establishment permits were issued over the seven months under review, registering a 45.1% year-on-year growth. These projects created 484,385 jobs – 37.3% more compared with last year's corresponding period.
Khorasan Razavi Province with 2,154, Yazd Province with 2,063 and Tehran Province with 1,398 had the largest share of establishment permits issued during the period.
The southern Khuzestan Province, with more than 302.58 trillion rials ($1.16 billion) worth of investments for 867 units with establishment permits, is projected to have attracted the highest volume of investments. This amount registers a 79.6% hike compared with the corresponding period of last year.
The number of establishment permits issued for industrial units located in free trade and special economic zones decreased by 76.1% to 43.
Investments worth 20.45 trillion rials ($78.66 million) made in these projects have generated 2,266 jobs, registering a 94.8% and 77.8% YOY decline respectively.
The field of “other non-metal minerals” saw the highest number of establishment permits (2,754) and the highest number of jobs was generated in the field of food and beverages (55,040).
The highest volume of investment in these units was made in projects related to chemical production with close to 341.55 trillion rials ($1.31 billion). This accounts for 12.6% of total investments made in projects for which establishment permits were issued over the seven months.
Operating Licenses
A total of 3,665 operating licenses were issued during the period under review, which shows a 3.1% YOY rise. These projects created 62,820 jobs, indicating a 14.2% rise compared with the corresponding period of last year.
Khorasan Razavi Province with 265, East Azarbaijan Province with 264 and Isfahan Province with 260 had the largest share of all operating licenses issued during the period.
Isfahan Province, with more than 26.46 trillion rials ($101.78 million), attracted the highest volume of estimated investment in projects with operating licenses. The figure shows a 77.5% surge compared with the similar period of last year.
The number of operating licenses issued for industrial projects located in free trade and special economic zones stood at 70, indicating a 66.7% decline YOY. More than 149.42 trillion rials ($574.7 million) worth of investments were made in these projects to create 3,207 jobs, registering a 665% rise and a 37.2% decline respectively YOY.
The field of chemical production saw the highest number of operating licenses, namely 582. The same field also created the highest number of jobs (7,512) over the period.
The highest volume of investments in this regard was made in projects related to the production of essential metals (196.9 trillion rials or $757.33 million), accounting for 38.5% of all investments made in industrial units for which operating licenses were issued.
The number of greenfield projects for which operating licenses were issued stood at 1,807, some 31 of which were for those located in free trade and special economic zones, indicating a 1.1% rise and 73.9% decline respectively YOY.
A total of 1,858 permits were issued for the operation of brownfield projects, 39 of which were located in FTZs and special economic zones showing a 5.2% increase and 57.1% fall YOY, respectively.
Mineral Production Permits
A total of 349 mineral production permits were issued during the period, registering a meager 1.7% increase compared with the similar period of last year.
These permits are expected to create 2,803 jobs, which indicate a 7.4% decline compared with the same period of last year.
The nominal mineral extraction capacity of the projects stands at 15.31 million tons, which shows a 5.7% increase compared with last year’s corresponding period.
The provinces of Fars with 32, Markazi with 29, Khorasan Razavi with 25, Isfahan with 24 and Semnan with 21, had the largest share of mineral production permits issued during the period.
Mineral production permits issued over the seven months under review are expected to create the largest number of jobs in Fars Province (323), Kerman Province (249) East Azarbaijan Province (225), Khorasan Razavi Province (193), Markazi Province (157) and Semnan Province (145).
The provinces of Hormozgan, Khuzestan and East Azarbaijan with a total of 2.38 million tons, 2.02 million tons and 1.5 million tons respectively had the highest volume of nominal extraction capacities.
A total of 291 exploration permits were issued during the seven months ending Oct. 21. The figure does not show any change compared with the corresponding period of last year.
Exploration costs stood at 775.9 billion rials ($2.98 million), registering a YOY increase of 4%.
