Economic news in brief (Oct. 23)

Khuzestan to export 500 tons dates this year

AHVAZ — The Agricultural Jihad Department of Hendijan, Khuzestan Province, predicts that the city will export over 500 tons of dates this year (started March 20, 2005), Malekzadeh, director of the department said on Sunday.

He added that Hendijan’s product will be exported to Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the U.S., and Britain.

The official put the value of the date produced in the city at Rls.1.3 billion.

Comprehensive plan of mandatory standard devised

TEHRAN — The first stage of the nationwide comprehensive plan of implementing mandatory standard was launched yesterday.

The plan is aimed at controlling 25 types of commodities that are mostly used in the country.

Ovens, stoves, tiles, pasteurized milk, meat products, vegetable oil, tissues, nappies, PVC pipes, etc. are among the goods on which the comprehensive plan of mandatory standard will be implemented.

Safety and hygiene are the two priorities considered for carrying out the first stage of the plan.

The first stage is carried out within four months, and the second stage will be started within the next couple of months.

Markazi Province’s commissioned mines hit 222

TEHRAN — By commissioning 16 new mines in Markazi Province, the mines under commission in the province hit 222, Iraj Movaffaq, the chairman of the province’s Industries and Mines Department said on Sunday.

He added that these mines have been commissioned during the six months of the current Iranian year (started March 20, 2005).

He also said that investment as much as Rls.22 billion has been made on the newly commissioned mines.

Generating 127 job opportunities, the mines have been excavated at the cost of Rls.843 million.

Export of foodstuffs up 31%

TEHRAN — Export of the foodstuff products in the first six months of the current Iranian year (started March 20, 2005) boosted by 31 percent, compared with the corresponding period last year.

In this period, 275,000 tons of different foodstuff products valued at $143 million were exported among which biscuits and cookies had the maximum growth — 165 percent — as far as value is concerned.

Different types of chocolate, biscuits and cookies were mostly exported to Azerbaijan, Iraq, Turkmenistan, Rumania, Kazakhstan, Yemen, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and Armenia.

CBI to supervise export, import of silver, gold

TEHRAN — The Import Department of the I. R. of Iran Customs Administration in an announcement released on Sunday forbade import and export of gold and silver lacking the permission of the Central Bank of Iran (CBI).

It added that although, the gold and silver ingots are not under the mandatory standard, the import and export of these metals should be carried out under the CBI license.

Mahan Air to offer new flight from Tehran to Indian port

TEHRAN – The Iranian regional carrier Mahan Air will offer a flight from Tehran to the Indian port of Kochi (also known as Cochin) starting from December.

Mahan Air is the 16th company to provide a flight to this port city. The Iranian company will initially offer three weekly Tehran-Kochi flights. Currently, Kochi hosts a total of 204 flights a week.  Kochi is the largest city in the state of Kerala, India, and is its principal seaport. The city derives its name from the Malayalam word "Kochazhi" meaning small lagoon. This was shortened to Cochin by the westerners for easy pronunciation.

Over $109m of goods exported from PSEZ

ASSALUYEH, Bushehr – Last month, some 362,550 tons of goods, valued at 109.49 million dollars, were exported from the Pars Special Economic Zone (PSEZ) Customs office.

The volume was mainly consisted of gas condensates, sulfur, and butane. It showed 7% increase in comparison with the corresponding period last year. In the same period, the customs office imported some $118.9m, corroborating 48% decrease. Located on the Persian Gulf coast, the PSEZ is considered as one of the most strategic economic zones in the world.

Total balance of deposit accounts in Bank Maskan up 31.4%

TEHRAN – By the end of the first half of the current Iranian year (started March 21, 2005), the total balance of individual deposit accounts at the Bank Maskan reached about 20,154 billion rials.

This showed 31.4 percent increase in comparison with figures registered at the end of the last Iranian year (ended March 20, 2005). The total balance of Javanan (Youth) Deposit Accounts comprised 1,541 billion rials of the stated amount.

FK/MA

END

MNA