Khuzestan aims to increase GDP share through industrial expansion

Mehran Ravanbakhsh, the Director General of Industry, Mine and Trade for Khuzestan, has announced a strategic goal to increase the province's share of Iran's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from the current 15.2 percent back to 21 percent by the year 1410 (Persian calendar).

During the groundbreaking ceremony for a new sugar refining, sugar candy, and rock candy production project in the Andimeshk Industrial Estate No. 2, Ravanbakhsh noted that the province's GDP share dropped from approximately 21 percent in the 1390s (Persian calendar) to 15.2 percent in 2022-2023, partly due to oil sanctions.

A key component of this economic recovery strategy involves completing value chains for local industries. Currently, Khuzestan produces over 1.1 million tons of sugar annually, but much of it is exported in raw form for processing elsewhere. By developing local processing and transformative industries, the province aims to increase added value, create jobs, and retain more income within the region.