The daily quoted Ministry of Industries and Mines Director-General Ahmad Qasemi as saying that if the plan is achieved, the amount would mean a 50 percent growth compared to the value of exports in the previous year.

Iran's total industrial and mineral exports to countries abroad reached 4 billion dollars during the said period, he added.

He said his ministry has set a target of one-and-a-half billion dollars until the end of the year (March 20, 2005).

Currently, Iran exports more than 1000 kinds of industrial products to countries abroad such as medicines, detergents, chemical and petrochemical substances, plastics and melamine, tires, cellulose, mineral products, various kinds of metals and fabrics, thread, synthetic fibers, shoes, cars and auto spare parts.