Transit of goods via Iran rises 14.7% in 11 months

TEHRAN,Feb.24(MNA) – Over 10.52 million tons of goods were transited through Iran in the first eleven months of the current Iranian calendar year (started March 20, 2012), showing a 14.7 percent rise year on year. The amount was 32 percent greater than the figure that had been projected in the Fifth Five-Year Development Plan (2010-2015), the Fars News Agency quoted Iranian Deputy Roads and Urban Development Minister Shahriyar Afandizadeh as saying on Saturday. Fuel, oil products, petrochemicals, construction materials, cotton, home appliances, vehicles, foodstuffs, and fertilizers are the most commonly transited consignments, he noted. In December 2012, Afandizadeh said that more than 100 countries are currently transiting their goods via Iran. On Wednesday, IRNA quoted Construction and Development of Transportation Infrastructure Company of Iran Managing Director Ahmad Sadeqi as saying that Iran will start selling 7 trillion rials (about $570 million) worth of bonds in the near future to finance the expansion of its roads and transportation infrastructure. The revenues will be used to expand railways, highways, and main roads across the country, he added.