Chief Executive of CinnaGen Pharmaceutical Group Dr. Haleh Hamedifar said Islamic Republic of Iran was turned into the largest exporter of technology in the pharmaceutical industry.

Hamedifar made the remarks on Tuesday saying, “for the first time in the country, this pharmaceutical group was introduced as leading exporter of technology in pharmaceutical industry.”

Speaking in 34th meeting of Representatives Board of Tehran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (TCCIMA), she maintained, “technologies of this pharmaceutical group have been exported to Malaysia and Argentine for the first time.”

Turning to the activities of this pharmaceutical group in the field of supplying “high-tech” drugs and also medicines for special and hard-to-cure diseases, Hamedifar added, “there are only one or two manufacturing companies in the world for producing these special drugs, so that technical knowhow of these drugs has been indigenized and are produced without technological dependency.”

Currently, CinnaGen Pharmaceutical Group accounts for 40 percent export share of pharmaceuticals in the country, she said, adding, “accordingly, employment opportunities have been created for 2,500 people in pharmaceutical industry of the country.”

As the sole receiver of Amin al-Zarb Pharmaceutical Badge in the country, she said, “drug is a strategic product which can guarantee health in the society, so that responsible officials in the country should pay due attention to this important issue.”

Elsewhere in her remarks, she called on government officials to allocate sufficient budget in pharmaceutical industry of the country.

Currently, Food and Drug Organization (FDO) is responsible for regulating operations in pharmaceutical sector of the country but this body also is supplier of drugs and medicines as well as main body for the allocation of foreign exchange to this sector.

In conclusion, she urged government officials to support those pharmaceutical companies which can produce and supply high-tech drugs for patients suffering from special diseases.

Mohammad-Ali Rejali a veteran economic activist who has more than four decades of industrial experience and founder of Zarif Mosavar Company was the next speaker who said, “suitable ways should be provided for entrepreneurs in the country in order to spur production in the best way possible.”

It is worth mentioning that Plaque of Honor and Amin al-Zarb Badge were awarded to top entrepreneurs and exemplary units in pharmaceutical industry of the country in the presence of ministries of industry and agriculture. / Mehr news /

A s per the budget bill of the next fiscal year (starting March 21), the government will allocate a total of 3,270 trillion rials ($76 billion) to create more than 1.03 million jobs, the government spokesman said.

“Out of the total sum, 734 trillion rials ($17.06 billion) will be spent on job-generating manufacturing projects and 2,543 trillion rials ($59.13 billion) will be spent on development projects,” Mehr News Agency also quoted Mohammad Baqer Nobakht as saying.

Nobakht added that 174 trillion rials ($4.04 billion) of the budget for the manufacturing projects are to be provided from public budget resources by increasing fuel prices, 150 trillion rials ($3.48 billion) out of the National Development Fund of Iran, 350 trillion rials ($8.13 billion) from bank loans and 60 trillion rials ($1.39 billion) from the resources of “Rural Employment Support and Expansion”. /  Financial tribune /

DesignMENA, Middle East’s premier website for architecture and interior design, has released a list of top 50 Middle East’s most influential architects, among which are five Iranians.

In its first publication in 2018, Middle East Architect has rounded up 50 of the Middle East’s most influential established and emerging architects. From Lebanon to Iran, this list highlights the architects that have positively contributed to the growing development of the region.

The list, entitled ‘Who’s Who’ consists of 45 established architects and five up-and-comers that the website recommends to be on your radar for 2018. Among the 50 most influential architects there are the names of five architects from Iran:

Amir Hossein Hajizadeh; his projects include the Tokyo Music Center, which won MEA Awards’ Public Sector Project of the Year in 2015 and the Chabahar Free Zone Complex that was awarded MEA Awards’ Concept Design of Year in 2017.

Arash G Tehrani; founder and principal at Arash G Tehrani Design Studio.

Behzad Atabaki; founder and CEO of Behzad Atabaki Studio. Atabaki has been nominated for many awards including the Aga Khan Award for Architects and a World Architecture Festival Award in 2017.

Mohammad Khavarian; his studio worked on a number of projects this year including Chamestan House in northern Iran and a residential project in Yazd. For 2018, the firm looks to complete residential projects across Iran and K Mall in Baghdad.

Kourosh Hajizadeh; founder of the award-winning Tehran-based architecture firm Hajizadeh & Associates as MEA Awards’ Architect of the Year in 2013. / Mehr news /

A bout 230 million ornamental fish were produced in Iran in the last Iranian year (ended March 20, 2017), of which 66 million worth $2.2 million were exported, registering a twofold increase compared with the year before, the chairman of Iran Fisheries Organization told Financial Tribune.

“The exports were mainly made to Turkey, Azerbaijan, the UAE and Iraq. There were also two shipments to East Asia last year,” Hassan Salehi, who is also a deputy agriculture minister, added.

Isfahan, Tehran and Gilan, according to the official, top the list of Iranian provinces producing ornamental fish. Close to 8,700 people earn their living through ornamental fish farming in Iran.

To expand the lucrative industry, Salehi said, Iran Fisheries Organization plans to launch specialized parks and complexes across the country for producing ornamental fish.

/ Financial tribune /

The head of Iranian Space Agency said that Iran ranks top in space science in the region and holds the 11th world ranking.

Deputy ICT Minister Morteza Barari highlighted the fact that Iran holds the first ranking in space science in the region and said that Iran was the ninth country that was able to launch satellites to the space.

Deputy ICT Minister stressed the necessity of improving space economy and added “launching satellites with the focus laid upon space authority was a very effective measure. At present, however, we need change in space economy.”

“We have managed to design, produce and launch research satellites, but have not been able to develop the right use for them,” he added.

“We now hold the first rank in space science production in region, but when it comes to functional space technology, we need transformation and change; this is because space science can provide job opportunities as well,” he asserted.

The Head of Iranian Space Agency Morteza Barari said that Iranian youth can contribute to this field of study immensely and said that Iranian Startups can be formed in the field of space technology. “Global Positions Systems and Navigation Applications some of which have achieved global renown use such space data and information.” /  Mehr news /

Iranian experts at an airbase in Shiraz have overhauled a Sukhoi Su-24 attack aircraft, which has now joined the operational fleet of Army’s air force.

The Sukhoi Su-24 fighter jet had been grounded for many years, and remained in the overhaul facility of Shahid Doran Airbase in Shiraz ever since.

On January 14, Iranian experts and specialized technicians succeeded in overhauling the grounded aircraft after spending over 35,000 manpower, working hours and constant efforts.

The aircraft has now joined the operational fleet of the Army’s Air Force after having passed all the necessary flight, combat and landing tests. / Mehr news /

The 33rd Fajr Music Festival opened with 10 different performances in several venues across the capital Tehran on Wednesday.

On the first night, Vahdat Hall hosted the festival revelers who watched performances by the Chakavak Orchestra and vocalist Abdolhossein Mokhtabad with his Nobang Ensemble.

Nima Ensemble from Mazandaran Province and Jee Ensemble from Kordestan Province gave their performances at Azadi Tower.

Milad Tower also played host to young singer Ali Zand-Vakili who redid some of his hits.

The Wild Strings Trio, one of the most unusual musical groups in Slovenia, Mahyar Tarihi from Iran and Austrian pianist Michael Kahr gave their performances at the Niavaran Cultural Center.

A number of musicians and bands from around the world are scheduled to perform during the festival running until January 20.

French drummer Manu Katché, Italian musicians Francesco Cafiso and Luca Ciarla, Portuguese singer Ricardo Ribeiro and Indian sitar player Shahid Parvez Khan are among the musicians.

Klenke Quartet from Germany, Renaissance Ensemble from Serbia, Egschiglen from Mongolia and Trio Chausson from France are also attending the festival.

In addition, experts from Germany, Austria, Poland and Iran will hold a number of workshops arranged on the sidelines of the festival.

The workshops will take place at the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Cultural Institute (ECI) in Tehran. / Tehran times /

According to Iranian deputy foreign minister, the nationals of 180 countries can travel to Iranian southern island of Qeshm with no need to apply for visa prior to their travel.

“With opening of the electric visa issuance office at Qeshm Airport, the nationals of 180 countries in the world can receive their visa at Qeshm Airport within 20 minutes with just having their passport at hand,” said Hassan Ghashghavi, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Consular Affairs.

The senior diplomat made the remarks late on Wednesday at the ceremony of opening the visa-issuance office at the airport.

Qeshm Island, located between the opening of the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, is Iran’s second free trade zone and a unique tourism hub. Qeshm has semi-equatorial climate and is hot and humid most of the year. The island experiences pleasant falls, mild winters and springs, and very hot summers.

According to the diplomat, the foreign nationals can refer to the same office if they wanted to extend their period of stay in Iran, without needing to visit embassies or consulates.

“Foreign citizens can also apply for tourism visas without physical presence in Iranian missions just using the Internet. The procedure code will be sent to their cell phones.

/ Mehr news /

Sar-e Aqa Seyyed is a village in Chaharmahal-Bakhtiyari province, western Iran. Earth-colored houses are stacked on top of one another so that the roof of one house forms the pathway for the next.

The village is named after Aqa Seyyed shrine. Most of the houses are windowless and only have doors. The village has a population of around 3,000 who are mostly living on husbandry and agriculture. They are very hardworking. Unfortunately, Aqa Seyyed lacks any development infrastructure such as asphalted roads or communication facilities./ Tehran times /