(Minews) - A number of Japanese companies have voiced their preparedness to make technical contribution to steel projects underway in Iran’s southern Chabahar port city.
A Japanese delegation including the country’s ambassador to Iran as well as 12 representatives of major Japanese steel companies made a visit to Chabahar on Monday.
During a meeting with the officials from Chabahar Free Trade Zone, the members of the delegation announced Japanese companies' readiness to cooperate with Iranian steel producers in reducing water consumption in Iran’s steel projects.
Meanwhile, the managing director of Chabahar Free Trade Zone said Iran welcomes cooperation with Japanese companies.
“Chabahar Free Zone has diverse investment capacities especially in steel industry. The ground has already been prepared for cooperation with the Japanese companies,” Hamed Ali Mobaraki was quoted by the Iranian media as saying.
Iran says it has invested more than two billion dollars in its steel industry as the country plans to build new facilities to boost steel production capacity.
Under the comprehensive plan, Iran’s steel production capacity will expand by 11.6 million tons per year.
According to the World Steel Association (WSA), Iran ranks first in the Middle East and 14th in the world in terms of steel production.
Official figures show that Iran produced 16.331 million tons of crude steel in 2014, a 5.9 percent rise from 15.422 million tons in 2013.
