Morteza Zakerian made the remarks on the sidelines of a visit to the province’s pavilion at the 20th International Exhibition of Mines and Mining Industries, highlighting South Khorasan’s considerable mineral resources and its potential to attract further investment.

South Khorasan, Iran’s third-largest province by area, has significant mining advantages, both in the diversity of its mineral resources and the scale of its reserves, Zakerian said, according to Shada, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Finance’s news service.

He said such events provide an opportunity to showcase the province’s capabilities, strengthen economic ties and attract new investors. However, he added, the province’s economic potential still requires further investment.

The provincial official said 300 investment permits had been issued for projects in industry, mining and trade, agriculture and livestock farming, cultural heritage, handicrafts and tourism, as well as the province’s special economic zone.

Zakerian described investment as one of the main drivers of economic development in South Khorasan, emphasizing that the province’s strategy extends beyond domestic capital to include foreign investment as a complementary source of growth.

He said the 13 foreign-backed mining projects cover both mineral extraction and processing, accounting for approximately 30% of all foreign investment projects in the province.

Chinese investors account for a significant share of these projects, Zakerian added.

Expanding foreign investment in mining could help unlock the province’s existing mineral potential, introduce new technologies, advance mineral processing and generate greater value added within the local economy, he said.