Page 49 - IRANRptDec19

Iran’s most valuable export items after oil, petrochemicals, gas, automotive consignments and nuts. The Islamic Republic is the world’s biggest producer of saffron, accounting for more than 90% of global production. However, there is growing competition in the cultivation of the vivid crimson ​Crocus sativus from India and China.
Saffron is cultivated in 22 Iranian provinces. The Khorasan Razavi, North Khorasan and South Khorasan provinces in eastern Iran account for almost nine-tenths of total Iranian output.
In the 2018/2019 Persian year, which ended on March 20, exporters sold some €66.1mn of saffron to the international market, official data shows.
To boost the overall value of Iran’s saffron output and create a market for trading, saffron futures were launched on the​ ​Iran Mercantile Exchange​ (IME) in May 2018.
According to the IME’s website on October 20 at 11:00 GMT, the spot​ ​price​ ​for Grade 1 “Crown” saffron stood at IRR77,000 (USD0.67 at the free market exchange rate) per gram; this was while the buyer’s price for Grade 1 (Normal Tufts) was at IRR66,000.
9.1.7​ Retail sector news
Damage to shops in Iran during unrest so far assessed at more than 1.7 trillion rials
More than Iranian rial (IRR) 1.7 trillion (€12.4mn at the free market rate) of major damage to Iranian retailers including supermarkets had occurred by November 19 during the riots across Iran sparked by a sudden big rise in petrol prices introduded at the end of last week, ​Jam-e-jam​ has reported.
Around 80 chain stores in different cities across the country were set ablaze over the past five days by rioters, local reports indicate. Some stores were partially damaged while others were wholly ransacked and set ablaze.
Most of the affected stores are in cities around Tehran including Marlik, Parand, Shahriar, Robat Karim, Pardis, Malard, Shahr-e Qods, Varamin and Hassanabad. Chain stores in Isfahan, Alborz province, Sanandaj and Kermanshah are also known to have been destroyed.
The provided financial estimate did not take into account minor damage to retail stores.
An unknown number of people lost their lives in the unrest. Amnesty International says it has confirmed 106 deaths.
On November 22, the authorities were ​gradually ending the global internet blackout​ they imposed on the country once the unrest became substantial.
9.1.8​ Construction & property sector news
Iran has struck a deal to build 30,000 homes in Syria, Mehr News has reported Iran Chamber of Commerce chairman Gholamhossein Shafaei as announcing.
With the Syrian Civil War across most of Syria largely won by the Damascus regime, substantially thanks to support from Iranian and Russian forces, Tehran is set on obtaining a post-war dividend on the business front. The Iranians have already in the past couple of years signed multiple contracts with the Syrian government in telecoms provision, auto production and other areas. Shafaei reportedly spoke at an Iran-Syria Business Forum, saying: “Iran hopes to see Syria's reconstruction following the full restoration of peace and stability to this country.”
He noted that the Iran Chamber of Commerce set up the “Syria Rebuild Headquarters” three years ago.”
49​ IRAN Country Report​ December 2019 www.intellinews.com