Iran exports 200 tractors to Iraq, Afghanistan

Iran exported 200 tractors to Iraq and Afghanistan to continue assistance to the reconstruction and development efforts of its two war-hit neighbors."Kurdistan Tractor-Manufacturing Company (KTMC) has exported 200 tractors to Iraq and Afghanistan during the last 20 days," Managing Director of the company Ja'far Maleki said Tuesday night, adding that the exported tractors were worth $3mln. Maleki also said that his company has sent a number of sample products to Iran's other neighbor, Turkmenistan, to open the way for export of its tractors to the Central Asian country. He said widening presence and exports to foreign markets is a top priority of his company, and added that KTMC plans to increase its exports to $15mln next year. Iran is one of the most important donors to Afghanistan which has kept its promises to help to the reconstruction of the war-hit country. Iran has built some roads, power transmission lines, and border stations, among the other infrastructure projects which would better link the two nations. Also, Iran and Iraq have enjoyed growing ties ever since the overthrow of the former Iraqi dictator, Saddam Hussein, in 2003. Both sides are working on a series of plans to take wide strides in expanding their ties. Iran is a major tractor-manufacturer and exporter. Iran Tractor Manufacturing Company (ITM Co.) in the Northwestern city of Tabriz has exported many of its products to a large number of world countries, and launched assembly lines in various parts of the world, including South America. Bolivia has recently demanded ITM Co. to launch a tractor-manufacturing line in Bolivia. ITM Co. has also built a tractor-manufacturing company in Venezuela called Veniran. Veniran is a joint venture company between Venezuela and Iran. Located in the provincial capital of Ciudad Bolivar, the plant manufactures tractors for peasants and socialist cooperatives across Latin America.