Publish Date: 11 October 2010 - 18:23

TEHRAN- The Export Guarantee Fund of Iran (EGFI) chairman has covered 14 percent of the national exports last year (ended March 20, 2010), the managing director of the EGFI Seyyed Kamal Seyyed Ali said on Sunday.

Speaking in a press conference, he added that exports grew by 30 percent in the first half of the year compared to the same period last year.

 The EGFI is ranked first in covering export insurance services in the region.

 Elsewhere in his remarks, he said that those exporters who have not received their export incentives can use them as collaterals in the fund.

 The EGFI insured 1.1 billion dollars worth of exports, including petrochemical goods, last year.

 Exports to 153 countries are under the coverage of the fund, he said, adding that China, Iraq, Afghanistan and India were the main export destinations of Iranian goods last year.

 The Export Guarantee Fund of Iran paid 16 million dollars last year as compensations to exporters, showing 171 percent rise year on year.