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meat per year.
He added: "This farm is one of the most modern farms in the country and to increase the welfare and health of livestock and also increase the quality and quantity of milk produced, a ‘free-range’ method of farming has been introduced.”
Milk and other dairy products worth $325.9mn were exported from the Islamic Republic during the first nine months of the previous Persian calendar year (March 21-December 21, 2019), according to Abdolmehdi Bakhshandeh, Deputy Agriculture Minister for Planning and Economic Affairs. The available data also showed that in the entirety of that year (ended March 21, 2020), Iran produced around 10mn tonnes of milk.
9.2.5​ Fast-moving consumer goods corporate news
European supermarket chain SPAR opens in Iran
European supermarket chain SPAR has opened a medium sized outlet in Iran, Tejarat Talaee business news website reported on November 30. With the store in Tehran, run by a joint venture with a local company SPAR IRAN, SPAR can commence a strategy to tap into grocery shopping in Iran, over the past decade one of the clear growth areas of Iran’s fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector and now worth around $80bn per annum, according to Vistar Business Monitor.
The small supermarket industry in Iran expanded after the nuclear deal was signed in 2015, removing UN sanctions imposed on Tehran. Local and foreign brands snapped up prime real estate across Tehran and other cities where square metres come at a premium. Since the US commenced with its heavy sanctions programme against Iran in mid-2018 driving out foreign investment, the expansion has obviously slowed down.
Local discount brands including Canbo, Ofogh Koorosh (OK) and Haft (7) have nevertheless continued to grow on the Iranian market.
Canbo and Ofogh Koorosh have led the charge against foreign market entrants, securing long leases in several locations in Tehran and elsewhere. By selling local brands – foreign products outnumber local products 10-to-1 – and especially their own brands, these local retailers can drive down prices. France’s Carrefour (under the Hyperstar brand) has been present in Iran for a decade, operating large and medium sized supermarkets.
9.2.6​ TMT corporate news
Iran starts roll out of 5G mobile connectivity
Iran’s two largest mobile network operators, MTN-Irancell and Mobile Communications of Iran (MCI), have started a rollout of a fifth generation (5G) mobile network in Tehran, ITMEN magazine has reported. MTN-Irancell’s first 5G mast is seen at the Communication and Information Technology Research Institute located on Kargar street in central Tehran. It was placed there in cooperation with the telecommunications ministry. Other areas of the capital will see 5G antennae installed gradually over the next few months by both operators.
The rollout forms part of a push by the government to spearhead the digitisation of state services and grow Iran’s technology sector despite the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis now into its third wave in the country.
MCI said it was in the process of localising equipment needed for the 5G rollout.
Several new 5G masts are to be put into operation in Tehran and other cities in the next few weeks.
5G in Iran is being introduced in cooperation with unnamed Chinese
61​ IRAN Country Report March 2021 www.intellinews.com