Azernews.Az

Some 4000 industrial units have been closed down in Iran, accounting for up to six per cent of the total industrial units in the country, ISNA news agency quoted Iranian deputy industry minister Fakhrollah Molaii as saying.

"However, the issue has nothing to do with international sanctions or fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates," he added.

He also said that about 81,000 industrial units are currently operating across Iran, with about 700,000 employing Iranian workers.

He added that 904 industrial estates and areas have been established in the country where some 30,000 industrial units are in operation.

Around 17,000 new industrial units are being established in the industrial estates and areas, he noted.

Export of Iran's industrial products has risen 40 per cent in the first half of the current Iranian calendar year (started March 20, 2012), Press TV quoted Safdar Rahmatabadi, deputy industry minister for legal affairs, as saying.

He reaffirmed Iran's resolve to further promote non-oil exports, noting that Iranian products are now sold in the markets of 170 countries.

Rahmatabadi pointed out that despite the West's sanctions and economic pressures, Iranian products are among the best commodities in the world.

Iran is among the top 10 countries in terms of mineral resources and its automobile and food industries rank 13 and 30 respectively in the world, the official added.