Ramazanali Sangdovini said petrochemicals have emerged as a stable and
attractive sector for investors and that further development could stimulate
both large and small businesses across the downstream value chain.
“Petrochemical development can drive a broader expansion of businesses
and create more employment in downstream industries,” Sangdovini said in an
interview with NIPNA.
Diversifying Beyond Oil and Gas
Sangdovini pointed to Iran’s broader economic-resilience policies,
under which expanding petrochemical production and exports has been identified
as one way to reduce the economy’s vulnerability to fluctuations in oil and gas
revenues.
He called for continued government and parliamentary support for
petrochemical companies, arguing that the industry’s contribution extends
beyond export earnings.
Petrochemical products serve as feedstock for a wide range of
industries, making the sector an important link between Iran’s hydrocarbon
resources and its broader manufacturing base.
Downstream Industry Seen as Employment Engine
Employment is another key benefit of petrochemical development,
according to Sangdovini.
The activation of petrochemical projects is expected to create
thousands of direct jobs at production complexes, while expansion across
downstream industries could generate thousands more positions, according to
industry officials.
The potential employment impact is particularly significant as Iran
seeks to capture more value domestically by developing industries around
petrochemical feedstocks rather than exporting hydrocarbons in less processed
forms.
Higher Value Offers Resilience
Sangdovini said the industry’s ability to generate higher value from
Iran’s hydrocarbon resources makes it particularly important under sanctions.
Petrochemicals, he argued, can provide a reliable economic support for
Iran by combining export potential with domestic industrial demand.
The comments reinforce a broader policy direction in Iran’s
petrochemical sector: moving beyond capacity expansion toward a more balanced
model built around value addition, downstream development, employment and
greater resilience to external economic pressure.