(IRNA) - Deputy Minister of Industries and Mines Mohammad-Reza Notash voiced Tehran's readiness Wednesday to share its experiences on development of small industries with member states of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO).
The official's remarks were part of a speech he delivered at the opening session of a three-day workshop participated in by representatives of six ECO member states.
The ECO is an inter-governmental regional organization established in 1985 by Iran, Pakistan and Turkey to promote economic, technical and cultural cooperation among its member states, reports Trend.
In 1992, the organization raised its membership to 10 with the addition of seven new members: Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and Azerbaijan.
"Tehran gives top priority to development of small industries and industrial towns," Notash said in his address to workshop participants Turkey, Kyrgyzstan, pakistan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Azerbaijan.
He said that Iran has successfully expanded its network of small industries by treating them as "industrial clusters."
The official said that the ongoing workshop is to examine a proposal of Iran for establishment of a fund in the organization that will act as an insurer of projects undertaken in each ECO member state that face the risk of failure.