TEHRAN – The 13th edition of Iran’s International Stone Exhibition was inaugurated Monday at the venue of Shahr-e Aftab International Exhibition in Tehran with the participation of companies from Iran and six other countries.
Some 110 Iranian companies along with companies from China, Russia, India, Italy, Turkey and Greece are showcasing their latest products and achievements in this edition of the exhibition in an area as large as 12,000 square meters.
The inaugural ceremony of the exhibition was attended by Deputy Minister of Industry, Mine and Trade for Mineral and Processing Affairs Reza Mohtashamipour, Chairman of Industries and Mines Commission at the Parliament Mostafa Taheri and Head of Iran House of Mine Mohammad Reza Bahraman as well as members of Iran Decorative Stone Association.
The exhibition will run until Friday.
According to Chairman of Iran Stone Association Bahram Shakouri, between 10 million and 11 million tons of decorative stones are annually extracted in the country.
He said that Iran has the capability of exporting $5 billion worth of decorative stone overseas.
The country is home to more than 6,000 mining and mineral processing units of decorative stones, which have generated employment opportunities for about 600,000 people in the country, he stated.
Iran earns between $300 and $350 million annually from the export of quality decorated stone, Shakhouri added.