He emphasized that petrochemicals drive Iran’s economic growth,
creating jobs and adding value to the economy. “With Iran’s scientific expertise
and competitive edge in petrochemicals, surpassing neighboring and other global
competitors is not just an ambition but a necessity,” Aref stated in a meeting
with leading petrochemical executives.
Aref highlighted the importance of the petrochemical sector for
realizing the country's 8% growth target outlined in Iran’s Seventh Development
Plan, which calls for an estimated $150 billion in foreign investment. “The
petrochemical industry is positioned as a key sector to attract this
investment, which in turn will open global markets to Iranian petrochemical
products,” he added.
He also underscored the need to integrate advanced technologies,
particularly artificial intelligence, to enhance efficiency and reduce
production costs. “With rapid technological advancements worldwide, Iran’s
petrochemical industry must stay at the forefront of innovation. Failure to do
so will impede our competitiveness in global markets,” he warned, noting that
advanced technology adoption is essential to keep production costs low and
maintain market viability.
Aref stressed the critical role of “research and development”
(R&D) in industrial sectors, suggesting that it should be seen as an
investment, not an expense. “Globally, major industries allocate up to 3% of
their revenue to R&D, and our negligence in this area could prove costly.
Fortunately, the petrochemical sector has made strides in R&D, and we must
continue to prioritize it.”
The vice president also highlighted the government’s ambitious human
resource development program aimed at training 1,000 high-skilled
professionals, with a focus on equipping the private sector. This initiative
includes training 100 top-level executives who, he said, could bring their
industry knowledge to key governmental roles to improve the understanding and
resolution of complex industrial challenges.
Turning to foreign trade, Aref criticized the lack of effective
commercial diplomacy in recent years, calling for a renewed focus on economic
diplomacy to strengthen Iran's position in global markets. “The petrochemical
sector, as a major non-oil export industry, is integral to our export goals and
can be instrumental in the government’s commercial diplomacy strategy,” he
said.
To address ongoing challenges, Aref directed his economic and infrastructure
oversight team to form a support task force for the petrochemical sector. This
task force will consist of leaders from the Petrochemical Industry Development
Company, the Iranian Petrochemical Employers Association, senior officials from
the ministries of industry, trade, and finance, as well as executives from
major petrochemical firms. The group will meet regularly to discuss and resolve
key issues, with findings reported directly to the vice president.
In the same meeting, Mehdi Ahmadi, Secretary-General of the
Petrochemical Employers Association, presented an overview of the sector's
impact on Iran’s economy, while executives from major petrochemical companies
highlighted ongoing challenges and discussed potential solutions.