Azerbaijan, Baku, Sep.7/ Trend F.Milad/
Investments in Iran's mining sector grew by 70 per cent during the last Iranian year which ended on March 19, compared to the year before, the deputy minister of industry, mine, and trade stated.
Vajihollah Ja'fari added that some 8.6 trillion rials was invested last year in mining projects, the ISNA news agency reported.
Industry, Mine and Trade Minister Mehdi Ghazanfari has said that Iran holds two per cent of the world's total mineral reserves. He added that the mineral reserves include 12 metal and 36 non-metal ores.
"Some 5000 mines are in operation in the country," he said, adding that around 340 million tons of minerals were extracted in the past year which ended on March 19.
Meanwhile, the deputy head of Iran's Geology and Mineral Exploration Organisation Behrouz Borna has said that the country ranks first in the Middle East for possessing the region's largest mineral reserves, Press TV reported.
Iran is ranked among the 15 major mineral rich countries of the world and exports its industrial and mineral products to 159 countries, including Iraq, China, the United Arab Emirates, India and Afghanistan.