The deputy head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways announced at a railway industry investment ceremony that the sector holds a $7 billion investment capacity.  Referencing the quantitative goals of the Seventh Development Plan for the country’s railway industry, Nourollah Beiranvand was reported by ILNA as saying, “Raising the share of rail freight to 30% and increasing transit to 40 million tons are key quantitative targets under the Seventh Development Plan. To achieve this, a comprehensive program prioritizing private sector involvement has been developed, focusing on infrastructure, fleet, and non-operational sector investments.”Beiranvand added that, “The planned investment amounts to $6.4 billion, with 77% allocated to fleet development and 23% to infrastructure. Specifically, $1.5 billion will be invested in infrastructure and $4.892 billion in fleet expansion. To facilitate this, an investment incentive package for the railway transport sector has been designed and presented.”The deputy of capital and transport economics at Iran Railways emphasized, “The incentive package focuses on economic returns, project financing, and risk reduction for investors.”“In March of last year, 330 billion tomans, and in April of this year, another 330 billion tomans in loans from fuel savings were allocated to private rail companies. Projections indicate a $7 billion investment capacity across these initiatives,” he further noted.Beiranvand stressed, “The railway sector generates $1.2 billion in annual benefits.”$750 million investment memorandumAdditionally, a $750 million investment memorandum for the national railway transport industry was signed on Sunday in the presence of the Minister of Roads and Urban Development.  According to ISNA, Minister of Roads and Urban Development Farzaneh Sadegh and Head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways Jabbar Ali Zakeri signed the investment memorandum with Avan Rail Trains Company and Pars Oqab Hashtgerd Agro-Industry Company.  Under this agreement, Avan Rail Trains Company will procure and produce 300 diesel self-propelled passenger units, 50 freight locomotives, and 600 tanker freight wagons.  Pars Oqab Hashtgerd Agro-Industry Company, per the memorandum, will supply and purchase 650 bulk freight wagons for grain transport, leveraging domestic production capacity, collaborating with local manufacturers, and facilitating technology transfer. (ICE TEHERAN)

Fonte notizia: IRAN DAILY