Tehran, Iran, July 8
Trend:
Iran ranks 18th in global maritime industry with 34,000 oil tankers passing through Persian Gulf, which is due to improved domestic production in the sector, said the Minister of Industry, Mine and Trade.
"While Iran Shipping Lines has always been prone to imports, today the policies should focus on domestic production," Reza Rahmani said, Trend reports citing ILNA.
"Currently, oil tankers and providing services to them is responsibility of foreign entities, but if they are produced domestically, it will have significant foreign currency revenues," he added. “Iran has unique potential. The country ranks 18th in global shipping and 13th in oil tankers transportation, but we can increase our capacity."
"If there is a need for government approval, it will be obtained in a short time. We believe it's unfair to import when there is potential for domestic production," he said. "The Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade is sensitive to this issue and follows the situation; hopefully the production in maritime industry will improve by the end of current Iranian year [started March, 21, 2019]."
"The foreign exchange policies also need to aim at domestic production, as the foreign currency fluctuation justifies the in-country production, not the imports," he noted.
The deputy minister Farshad Moghimi stated it's necessary that the Central Bank of Iran provides foreign currency to maritime industries and registering orders.