Iran’s garment exports are on the rise. Iraq, Azerbaijan and Afghanistan are the major destinations of Iranian garments.

Exports from Iran’s clothing and textile industries in the previous Iranian calendar year rose by eight per cent over the figure for the preceding year. Idle units are being revived and new ones are being established. The country is now almost self-sufficient in the supply of some raw materials, such as cotton yarns and only two percent of acrylic yarns are being imported due to the need for color diversity, especially in export products.

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.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.