Publish Date: 9 April 2010 - 18:29

TEHRAN, April 9 (MNA) – Iran exported $21.3 billion worth of non-oil goods (excluding gas condensates) to over 160 countries during the previous Iranian calendar year (ended March 20, 2010), the Trade Promotion Organization of Iran’s director said.

 The Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting quoted Babak Afqahi as saying that the exports were 16 percent and 35 percent higher year on year in terms of value and volume, respectively.

 

“The value of exports is 1.66 fold of the figure envisioned for the final year of the fourth five-year socio-economic development plan (2005-2010),” he said.

 

According to Afqahi, the development plan had forecasted the exports to hit $12.8 billion.

 

Including gas condensates, the exports amounted to $25.6 billion, showing a 10 percent increase in terms of value and 35 percent rise in terms of volume compared to its preceding year's figures.

 

Afaqhi, also the deputy commerce minister, went on saying that although the value of non-oil exports was projected  to be $52.9 billion by the end of the fourth development plan, but $78.6 billion worth of goods were exported during the five-year period.

 

“Iraq, China, the United Arab Emirates, India and Afghanistan were the major trading partners of Iran last year,” he added.

 

“Iranian firms also exported $3.1 billion worth of technical and engineering services to countries such as Turkmenistan, Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Lebanon,” Afqahi explained.

 

This figure shows a 25 percent increase compared to the year ended March 2009.

 

MF/MG

END

MNA