Iran’s exports of apparel and clothing increased 60 per cent in the nine months of the current year. The country exported 4,600 tons of garments, a significant 59 and 24 per cent growth in terms of weight and value respectively. Efforts are being made to make things easy for garment manufacturers to enhance exports. The decision to prohibit imports of some items has created huge opportunities for local manufacturers to increase their exports despite all challenges pertaining to the currency.

The country has taken measures aimed at renewing the country’s garment manufacturing industry, in a bid to enter international markets. Exporting apparel products to neighboring countries, including the CIS and, in particular, Azerbaijan, is on the agenda.

There are about 50,000 apparel manufacturing units in the country. Foreign representatives, branches and distributors of apparel in Iran who seek business licenses have been mandated to produce goods worth 20 per cent of their import value inside Iran and to export at least 50 per cent of this domestic production.

The initiative is aimed at increasing domestic production, creating jobs and reviving Iran’s apparel industry. Public interest in domestic products has dramatically surged over recent months. Plans are underway to establish a new apparel industrial town.