The domestic sugar and lump sugar factories have the annual production capacity of 2.6 million tons, but the output does not exceed 1.3 million tons, Mohammad-Ali Vafaii the vice chairman of the Industrial Development and Renovation Organization (IDRO) said, adding that through renovating the factories, the nominal output will be realized.

Through revamping 35 factories, which use sugar beet as the raw material, and 9 factories, which use sugar cane as the raw material, the output will reach 2.2 million tons annually. So, the country will become self-sufficient in this field, he noted.

Renovating the domestic industrial units is one of the main responsibilities of IDRO, Vafaii said, adding that extensive activities and studies have been carried out by IDRO to enhance productivity at different industries. Preparing a comprehensive plan for renovating part-making, tire, textile, and wood industries are among the activities, he said.

A plan for replacing worn-out electro-motors with new ones in different industries, which aims to a 1,000 megawatt saving in electricity consumption, is among the most important plans of IDRO, he said. “We are currently planning to provide necessary financial resources,” he added.

The IDRO vice chairman went on to say that many activities have been done so far in order to revamp and renovate different industries in the country. Renovating and revamping Haft-Tappeh Sugar Cane Agro-Industry Complex, Baft Balouch Textile Industries, and Qaemshahr Textile Industries were among the main activities of IDRO in recent years. A comprehensive plan has also been prepared for the next year, which will be implemented provided that the required budget is secured by the government and the Majlis, he said.

He also said that IDRO has proposed drafting a bill, aimed to protect the domestic production. According to the bill, the minister of industry, mine, and trade will prepare a plan to renovate and revamp industrial units through replacing old and worn-out machinery with modern ones and using automation methods, so that the overall productivity would be improved by 10 percent. Each state-run or private production unit will be granted 5 percent discount in income taxes provided that they increase output by 20 percent, he noted.

According to him, if the bill is approved by the Majlis and necessary budget is provided, one of the most comprehensive plans for renovating and revamping domestic industries, focused on boosting exports, will kick off.