Hamidreza Ajami, investment manager at the National Petrochemical Company, told the third pre-conference session of the International Investment and Financing in Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Industry forum that petrochemicals are a cornerstone of Iran’s economy and serve as a driving force for development and sustainable revenue.

Citing figures from the Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade, Ajami said more than 19% of the nation’s industrial added value comes from petrochemicals. He noted that 76 complexes with a capacity of more than 96 million tons are currently operating, some located in special economic zones, reinforcing Iran’s regional standing.

Ajami emphasized transparency in investment, saying all processes are handled through the National Licensing System without human intervention to eliminate corruption and “golden signatures.” The move, he said, has built trust among domestic and foreign investors.

He pointed to cooperation with the National Development Fund, noting that 19 projects worth about $8 billion have been introduced. Joint negotiations on downstream value-chain projects are also underway, which could boost complementary industries and job creation.

Addressing challenges in feedstock supply, Ajami said production sustainability depends on careful planning and close coordination with the Oil Ministry and National Iranian Gas Company.

He added that since the 1979 Islamic Revolution through 2022, about $87 billion has been invested in the sector, 19% of which came from Asian and European sources, more than 11% from the National Development Fund and other domestic resources, with the remainder from shareholders, loans and complex sales. In the past two years, total investment has surpassed $90 billion.

Ajami stressed that Iran’s petrochemical industry is not only a major currency earner but also a transparent, competitive and development-oriented sector that can play a unique role in sustainable economic growth.