Iran’s exports of handicrafts in the 11 months of the past fiscal year to February 19 amounted to $427 million, said the deputy cultural heritage, handicraft and tourism minister.

Pouya Mahmoudian added that of the total amount, some $237 million accounted for official exports, and the remaining $190 million belong to the suitcase trade.

According to the available data, the figure shows a 13.3% and 8% growth in terms of value and volume, respectively, compared with the corresponding period of the year before.

Noting that the country had set a $440-million goal for last fiscal’s handicrafts exports, the official said, the 11-month figure indicates a 97% realization of the plan.

Iran’s handicrafts exports reached $289 million in the fiscal (2018-2019), suggesting a mild growth of 3% year on year.

Traditional ceramics, pottery vessels, handwoven cloths as well as personal ornamentations with precious and semi-precious gemstones were the main products exported last year.

Iraq, Afghanistan, Germany, the US, the UK, were the top five export destinations of Iran during the said period.

MR/

Head of International Interaction Center of the Vice-Presidency for Science and Technology Affairs Mahdi Ghalenoei said on Sun. that Iran has forwarded homemade coronavirus, COVID-19, diagnostic kits to several countries in order to export kits to these countries if approved.

Following the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, in the country, knowledge-based companies began producing COVID-19 diagnostic kits to prove their capabilities with the healthcare system, he emphasized.

As the country is in the middle of fighting against COVID-19, in addition to meeting its domestic demands, homegrown coronavirus diagnostic kits will also be exported overseas, Ghalenoei added.

The sample of domestically-made coronavirus diagnostic kits have been forwarded to other countries, he said, adding, “with the coordination made, market of these kits will be developed in the international arena.”

Pakistan is one of the export target markets of country in the field of coronavirus diagnostic kits produced by domestic knowledge-based companies, he stated.

Pakistan is testing Iranian-made coronavirus diagnostic kits in one of its accredited healthcare treatment centers, he said, adding, “if Pakistan approves the kits, the country will export corona diagnostic kits to this country.”

He pointed to the Philippines as Iran’s another export target market for coronavirus diagnostic kit and added, “we have forwarded two types of COVID-19 diagnostic kits to Department of Health (DOH) in Philippines as well.”

India, Nigeria and Armenia are of the other export target markets of the country in the field of exporting coronavirus diagnostic kits, he added.

Qatar, Georgia and Syria will also be added to the list of Iran’s export target market in the field of coronavirus diagnostic kits.

MA/

Researchers at Amirkabir University of Technology have managed to attain the know-how to produce a type of disinfectant that does not pose any harm to the environment and humans.

The firm is now mass producing multi oxidant solution that can be used to both sanitize surfaces and hands.

The solution is produced by electrolysis of sodium chloride (NaCl) brine in an electrolytic cell. CEO of this company said that the process is exclusively owned by this firm, noting that no chemical compound is being used in the manufacturing process and so the product is environmentally friendly.

The solution does not threaten the health of people using it, he said, adding that it is also alkaline in nature and non-flammable.

As almost the rest of the world, Iran faced a shortage of disinfectants and other products needed for the fight against the novel coronavirus in the beginning weeks of the outbreak. However, knowledge-based firms, industrial units, and military organizations used their capacities to fulfill the domestic need.

The country is now producing its required COVID-19 test kits, face masks, disinfectants, and some medical equipment and even export the surplus production to other countries that need them.

MNA/

The International Short Film Festival on the coronavirus pandemic will be held in Tehran.

According to the officials of the event, the theme of the festival is ‘‘One Minute Quarantine’’.

The festival aims to share the experiences of the people of the world during the quarantine period in the fight against coronavirus.

It also aims to show the sweet and bitter experiences, nostalgia, unemployment, joy, and hope as well as deaths caused by COVID-19 during the quarantine period.

According to the latest reports on Sunday, more than 280,000 have died from COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus around the world, while the number of confirmed infections has surpassed four million and more than 1.3 million people have recovered.

MNA/

Iranian short ‘Braceball’, written and directed by Reyhane Mortezaeinia, will take part in the 4th Ramsgate International Film and TV Festival in the UK.

‘Braceball’ narrates the story of a young boy with a disability, who loves soccer and makes every effort to have his dream come true in spite of his physical limitations.

Set in England’s Royal Harbour, and the stunning location to multiple award-winning and acclaimed TV and Film productions, the 4th Ramsgate International Film and TV Festival will show new works and help promote filmmakers and cultural awareness.

The 4 edition of the festival will be held on 11-14 June 2020. /MNA/

An official at the Ministry of Agriculture said that Islamic Republic of Iran accounted for one percent share of world’s $4 billion turnover of halal food.

Of total more than $4,000 billion financial turnover of halal food in the world, less than one percent of which belongs to the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Payman Falsafi pointed to the halal food industry in the country and added, “halal food industry has a special place in our lives and has been intertwined with our lifestyle.”

“Halal Food” has a great influence in transcendence of soul and body of human being, he said, adding, “halal food is highly demanded and welcomed even in the countries where Muslims are in minority.”

About 250 ‘halal’ brands are used in the world, indicating that the product is basically produced according to the ‘halal’ standard rules and regulations, he stressed.

In Iran, there is one ‘halal’ logo which is presented by the National Institute of Standards and Industrial Research of Iran (ISIRI) to producers.

Under the law, various stages should be followed up in order to get a ‘halal’ logo and in this way, priority will be given to the protein and meat products, he added.

In this regard, a bylaw was approved at Iranian Parliament in 2008 entitled ‘Sharia Supervision on Slaughter and Fishing’, Falsafi underscored.

Elsewhere in his remarks, he pointed to the protein and meat products in the country and added, “all protein and meat products in the country are ‘halal’ which are produced under the strict supervision.”

Of total more than $4,000 financial turnover of ‘halal’ products in the world, one percent of which is earmarked to the Islamic Republic of Iran, he said, adding, “however, some countries have been investing on ‘halal’ industry for about 35 years in an organized manner and with a clear investment structure. In other words, these countries accounted for 35% of financial turnover of ‘halal’ trade to themselves.”

MA/

Chairman of the Board of directors of an Iranian knowledge-based company informed that South American countries is inclined to start imports of coronavirus test kits from Iran.

According to Behzad Hajian Tehran, after exports of Iranian anti-coronavirus products and test kits to Germany and some other countries, now South American countries have expressed a tendency for imports of such products.

“We have received orders for some millions test kits from South America and are investigating their supply,” he said.

Islamic Republic of Iran has currently started exporting coronavirus diagnostic kits to a number of countries including Germany and Turkey.

Iranian consignment comprising 40,000 coronavirus test kits was dispatched from Tehran to Germany on May 5.

Its consignment including 15 ventilators, 5,000 test kits, 6,000 face mask, 2,000 medical gloves, and other medical equipment was delivered to Lebanon on May 4.

In mid-April, Spokesperson for the Coronavirus Combat and Prevention Headquarters Kianoush Jahanpour said that the country has developed COVID-19 rapid test kits based on antibody detection, adding that the kits will hit the market soon.

He went on to say that no drug and vaccine has yet been produced in the world to treat and prevent coronavirus and the best way to contain this epidemic, which makes social work and reopening of jobs possible, is to use COVID-19 rapid testing from antibodies.

On March 9, Secretary of Biotechnology Development Headquarters of the Vice-Presidency for Science and Technology Mostafa Ghanei informed that Iranian knowledge-based companies would put their produced coronavirus test kits to the market next Iranian calendar month, Farvardin (Starting on March 20, 2020).

Since the beginning of the entry of coronavirus, into the country, the Biotechnology Development Headquarters of the Vice-Presidency for Science and Technology in cooperation with the Food and Drug Administration of Iran and Ministry of Health issued a call that if any knowledge-based company was able to produce a drug and/or kit.

MNA/

A consignment of COVID-19 diagnostic kits manufactured by an Iranian knowledge-based company has been exported to Germany.

The shipment has consisted of 40,000 coronavirus detection kits, Behrooz Hajian Tehrani, project manager and CEO of the manufacturing company said on Tuesday, ISNA news agency reported.

Referring to the company’s background of producing tumor marker test kits, infectious and hormonal diseases and more than five types of biochemical kits, he said that “So far, these products have been exported to countries such as Germany, Italy, Belgium, Brazil, South Korea, and Turkey.”

Emphasizing that the diagnostic kits made by this company have been able to receive complex processes for obtaining a license in the country, he announced the kits have also obtained the European CE (certification mark that indicates conformity with health, safety, and environmental protection standards) license.

There are about 150 companies and research centers around the world who could produce these kits, most of which are based in China and the United States, while many developed European countries have not yet been able to create the test kits, he explained.

“The shipment, which was exported to Germany today, includes 40,000 diagnostic tests,” he stated, adding, “Turkey, Ecuador, Brazil, and Spain are among the countries that have applied to buy Iranian kits to diagnose coronavirus infection.”

With the onset of the epidemic, Iranian researchers soon achieved the technology to produce three kinds of COVID-19 diagnostic kits that hit the market.

Two types of diagnostic kits are now mass-produced by knowledge-based companies, first one is the RT-PCR tests, 8 million of which are being produced per month; while the other is serology-based tests that a total of 400,000 are being manufactured monthly and is expected to reach up to 2 million.

The first cases of COVID-19 were identified in the Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019, which has now spread to more than 210 countries, infecting nearly 3,663,968 people and killing more than 252,758.

Some 100,000 people have so far been diagnosed with the coronavirus in Iran, the health ministry announced on Tuesday.

Health ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said that the total number of people diagnosed with the coronavirus has reached 99,970 of whom 6,340 have lost their lives.

However, fortunately, 80,474 patients, equaling 80.5 percent of the total, have recovered from the disease.

T.T/

Iran is ready to supply other countries needing the equipment and devices necessary to fight the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, says the foreign ministry spokesman.

“As Iran has progressed in flattening the COVID19 curve, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif promised to supply all countries in need with COVID19-related devices and equipment,” Abbas Mousavi wrote on his Twitter account on Wednesday, with the hashtag #StrongerTogether.

“As a gesture of solidarity, Iran has sent medical items to Afghanistan, Lebanon and Germany recently. Iran will keep lending a helping hand to nations in need,” he added.

The Islamic Republic has reached such a level of self-sufficiency in producing the devices that it can now export them to most countries across the world.

An Iranian consignment comprising 40,000 coronavirus test kits was dispatched from Tehran to Germany on Tuesday morning. The country has sent its coronavirus test kits to various countries by the present time. Another consignment including 15 ventilators, 5,000 test kits, 6,000 face mask, 2,000 medical gloves, and other medical equipment was delivered to Lebanon on Monday.

The novel virus that can cause a potentially fatal respiratory infection called COVID-19 has killed more than 258,000 people worldwide, including 6,300-plus in Iran. It first emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year.

MR/

Iranian researchers have so far conducted over 1,200 projects related to coronavirus, ranking the country third in terms of scientific findings on coronavirus in the world, deputy health minister Reza Malekzadeh has said.

Since coronavirus outbreak, all researchers joined hands to conduct a very significant research activity, so that, 1,200 research projects have been underway over the past month and a half, ISNA quoted Malekzadeh as saying on Friday.

By implementing research and development projects on coronavirus, we will offer excellent scientific products shortly on the international scale, he added.

He went on to explain that most of the coronavirus research currently being conducted in the country is interventional schemes, and 35 schemes are finding effective treatments for COVID-19.

“In the technology sector, we have been able to support knowledge-based companies financially through the Innovation and Prosperity Fund, as well as the Ministry of Health,” he highlighted, stating, Iran was one of the first countries to produce the serology kits, and is capable of exporting it to other countries as well.

The pandemic used a large portion of the country’s energy, budget and health care facilities, and medical centers have faced many economic problems, so that the government needs to support the health sector, in particular, he concluded.

The Iranian health ministry on Friday announced that the total number of people diagnosed with the coronavirus has reached 95,646 of whom 6,091 have died and 76,318 (equaling 72 percent), have recovered.

T.T/