According to the National Iranian Oil Company, Omid Shakeri, deputy oil minister for engineering, research and technology, made the remarks Tuesday at the first specialized meeting on developing domestic manufacturing in the oil industry. He said promoting local manufacturing has always been a national priority and remains a core policy of the Oil Ministry.

Shakeri said Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has emphasized the need for government bodies to remove obstacles facing the private sector, adding that the Oil Ministry has consistently followed this approach.

He noted that an internal directive has been issued to support first-of-a-kind production, facilitating the inclusion of manufacturers in the authorized vendors list and providing necessary support. As a result, he said, more than 80% of the country’s first-of-a-kind production projects have been implemented with backing from the Oil Ministry.

Shakeri said the challenges facing manufacturers have intensified, adding that for first-time producers, financing of 50 trillion rials has been arranged through rial-denominated letters of credit, while product insurance has been provided through the Technology and Research Fund to give employers greater confidence in using these products.

Focus on Investment and Transparent Planning

At the same meeting, Seyed Dadoush Hashemi Golsefidi, acting head of manufacturing support and supply at the National Iranian Oil Co., stressed the importance of economic growth. He said six national development plans have been completed and the seventh is now underway, but achieving higher growth with limited resources requires a shift in mindset and a more focused investment strategy.

He said allocating 30% of National Development Fund resources to the energy sector could yield better results.

Hashemi Golsefidi also called for concentrating first-of-a-kind production within a centralized framework to improve transparency in planning and policymaking. Citing financial constraints faced by knowledge-based and private companies, he said clear mechanisms are needed to address these challenges so innovative ideas are not lost.

Domestic Manufacturers Praised as Drivers of Productive Economy

Ehsan Saqafi, chairman of the Iranian Oil Industry Equipment Manufacturers Association, said plans are underway to establish a permanent secretariat for first-of-a-kind production. He described domestic industry players as “champions of the productive economy” who have persisted despite difficulties to advance the country’s industrial development.

Saqafi said organizing an exhibition of first-of-a-kind products and establishing a joint technology office to facilitate industrial cooperation are on the agenda. He added that 50 association members are scheduled to participate in the Ahvaz Oil Industry Exhibition.