The minister of industry, mines, and trade tasked the Industrial
Development and Renovation Organization of Iran (IDRO) with implementing 30
large industrial projects in border provinces and underdeveloped areas of the
country.

Addressing a general assembly meeting of IDRO, Eng. Mohammad Reza
Nematzadeh added that the country’s hope is pinned to developmental
organizations, such as IDRO. Projects which cannot be carried out by the private
sector should be implemented by such organizations, he said.

The chairman of the general assembly of IDRO went on to say that IDRO should
implement at least 30 large and studied industrial projects in border provinces
and underdeveloped areas in order to create jobs and supply products at
reasonable prices and qualities to people living in such regions.

The minister of industry, mines, and trade emphasized the need to select
and carry out the industrial projects in border areas considering needs of the
neighboring countries. Implementing the development projects can create jobs
for people in underdeveloped areas, prevent from smuggling of goods, and lead
to economic and social development of the regions, he noted.

 We should find ways to finance the project, he said, adding that the
private sector should invest in the projects. If the private sector finds out
that the developmental organization wants to support it and is its strategic
partner, it will cooperate in implementing the projects, the minister said.

Referring to the possibility of investing by IDRO in other countries, he
said that IDRO can establish branches in other countries. It can receive the
required permissions from the government and the parliament, he said.

The minister of industry, mines, and trade further said that transferring
a number of subsidiaries of IDRO, such as ISOICO Shipbuilding Company, pipe
manufacturing, and smelting, to the private sector was not a right decision, so
that the companies will be transferred to IDRO in the near future.

For his part, Eng. Gholamreza Shafei, the chairman of the Industrial
Development and Renovation Organization of Iran, said that 34 plans have been
developed which can be carried out in underdeveloped regions of the country.
The plans have been approved by members of the board of governors. The plans
will be introduced to the minister of industry, mines, and trade and members of
the general assembly. Some of the plans will be selected to be carried out in
the next year, he said.