IRAN: Sanctions ease industrial development process: Oil Minister

Minister of Oil Kazem Vaziri Hamaneh said on Thursday that sanctions and restrictions imposed on Iran on the international level will provide domestic industries with a good chance of development.

According to Oil Ministry's Public Relations Department, Hamaneh made the remark in an address to the Seminar of the Entrepreneurs of Oil Industry.

Hamaneh said that Iran has now provided exceptional opportunity for employers, contractors and consultants to benefit from vast national technical and engineering potential for the sake of development.

Turning to firm determination of the ninth government to use domestic potential, Hamaneh said President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the cabinet underline the need for exploiting domestic technical and engineering abilities.

He referred to the goals of the 20-Year Vision Plan, noting that with envisaged projects as well as plans and investments made in the country, the avenue is prepared for domestic contractors to contribute to implementation of the oil and gas projects.

Touching on growing number of the skilled manpower in Iran under present circumstances, he said that the order for privatization and loosening government's tight control over the affairs has encouraged the private sector to undertake more development projects and have better contribution.

"The government is serious in introducing domestic contractors to the world oil and gas markets," he said, adding, "In the wake of the efforts, the number of domestic contractors involved in foreign projects is increasing more than ever."

"The council of deputies of Oil Ministry has decided to collect data on identity of all domestic contractors active in the oil and gas industries, and incorporate the information into a more comprehensive list for presentation to the companies in charge of management," the minister added.