Esfahan at a Glance

Esfahan Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture

International Marketing and Relations Department

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Geographic Location

Isfahan province with an area of about 105,649 square kilometers, a population of 4.8 million and 24 cities is located in the center of Iran. The Isfahan province is bordered by eight province of the country. The capital of this province is Isfahan and it is located 435 km from capital of Iran.

Picture 1: Esfahan Geographic Location

Social Status

Muslim makes up about 86% of the population of Esfahan province, but religious minorities as Christians, Jews, and Zoroastrians have been living in the city of Esfahan. The existence of

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different religions, ethnic groups and tribes, have changed Esfahan into an international city in which all people from different cultures and religions have been living and working together, which is regarded as the sign of peace and tranquility of the city, throughout the history.

Picture 2: Vank Church

Picture 3: Sheikh Lotfallah Mosque

Economy

Isfahan Province with almost 167 billion dollar GDP and enjoying from 8600 industrial units is ranked as the second industrial province of the country.

The main products from these industries includes steel and its products, carpets and other floorings, textile and garment, petrochemical products, cement, stone and bricks, tile and ceramics, vehicle spare parts and home furniture to name a few.

There are nuclear experimental reactors as well as facilities for producing nuclear fuel (UCF) within the environs of the city. Isfahan has one of the largest steel-producing facilities in the region, as well as facilities for producing special alloys. Mobarakeh Steel Company is the biggest steel producer in the whole of the Middle East and Northern Africa, and it is the

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biggest DRI producer in the world. The Isfahan Steel Complex was the first manufacturer of constructional steel products in Iran, and it remains the largest such company today.

Picture 4: Mobarakeh Steel Complex

Picture 5: Isfahan Steel Company

Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company (HESA), Iran's most advanced aircraft manufacturing plant, is located just outside the Esfahan city.

Picture 6: Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company (HESA)

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Esfahan Oil Refining Company has started its activity since 1979 and now produces nearly 23% of the country’s petroleum products. This company has a total area of 340 hectares and a green space with an area of 114/5 hectares and it is located in the north-west of Esfahan.

Picture 7: Esfahan Oil Refining Company

Isfahan is also attracting international investment, especially in the Isfahan City Center which is the largest shopping mall in Iran and the fifth largest in the world.

Picture 8: Esfahan City Center Mall

The existence of major industries such as steel factories (Mobarakeh Steel Complex and Isfahan Steel Company), refinery, petrochemical, stone and ceramic industry in addition to academicals, collegiate and medical centers made Esfahan to become third populated city and the center of traders, industrialists and scientist of Iran.

Different agricultural products such as fruits, vegetables, and herbal plants are among the important export potentials in Isfahan. Some of the agricultural products in Isfahan are famous in the world, an example is the apples from Semirum.

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Picture 9: Semirum Apple

There are 669 mines in Isfahan which is 6.7% of total mines in the country. Esfahan ranks second in the country in terms of having the most number of mines. But ranks third in terms of investment values in mines.

Isfahan Main Export Products: Iron & Steel, Petrochemical products, Carpet & Other Floorings, Organic chemical products & Iron & Steel Artifacts, Cement, Gold, Tile, Ceramic & Spare Parts

Export Value: 379 Million dollars (2018)

Isfahan Main Import Products: Mechanical Machinery, Electric Machinery, Vehicle removable parts and components, Cast Iron, Iron, Steel & Tin and Related Products

Import Value: 2636.3 Million dollars (2018)

Universities and Scientific research centers

Isfahan province with almost 179 universities including Isfahan University, Isfahan University of Technology (IUT), Isfahan University of Medical Services, Isfahan University of Art.

Picture 10: Isfahan University of Technology (IUT)

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Picture 11: Isfahan University

Picture 12: Isfahan University of Medical Services

Picture 13: Isfahan University of Art

“Esfahan Science and Technology Town” is the first and most advanced Hi-Tech center of the country, providing services to 475 knowledge-based companies, which is one of the main reasons to select Esfahan as the “Capital of knowledge-based economy” of Iran.

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Picture 14: Isfahan Science and Technology Town

Health and Treatment

With more than 70 specialized and subspecialized hospitals and medical centers, Esfahan is considered as one of the main destinations of “Health Tourism” of the region, hosting many people from the neighboring countries every year.

Picture 15: Milad Hospital in Isfahan

“Esfahan Healthcare City” is a medical complex equipped with latest technology, providing high quality medical services as well as clinical and educational center. This medical complex has 4 phase in 4 seven-story-buildings including clinics, subspecialty clinics, labs, radiology, restaurants, conference halls and a 4star hotel in 14 floors.

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Picture 16: Isfahan Health Care Center (IHCC)

Picture 17: Isfahan Health Care City (IHCC)

Picture 18: Isfahan Health Care City (IHCC)

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Tourism

Isfahan is famous for its Islamic architecture, with many beautiful boulevards, covered bridges, palaces, mosques, and minarets. The historical background of the city and variety of historic monuments attracts large number of foreign tourists and visitors to Isfahan annually. In the last 8 month 321,956 foreign and 615,046 national tourists have visited Isfahan.

With over 2000 natural attractions, 1760 national registered attractions, 6 internationally registered attractions, Isfahan is one of the ten most beautiful cities in the world in terms of tourism. Besides the attraction sites, the city is famous for its artists and their handicrafts and artworks that attract visitors. The handmade carpets of Isfahan have a world class reputation which is the indicative of originality and nobility of Iranian products.

Picture 19: Isfahan Hand-made carpets

There are also almost 200 handicrafts products in Isfahan that have been registered by UNESCO such as handmade carpets, Khatam-kari (Wood Inlaying), Ghalamzani (engraving on metals such as silver and copper), and Firoozeh-koobi (Turquoise Inlaying).

Picture 20: Khatam-kari

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Picture 21: Firoozeh Koobi

Picture 22: Ghalamzani

The Naghsh-e Jahan Square in Isfahan is one of the largest city squares in the world, which UNESCO has designated it a World Heritage Site and is an outstanding example of Iranian-Islamic architecture. The city also has a wide variety of historic monuments such as Ali Qapou Palace, Chehelsotoon Palace and Menar Jonban minarets to name a few.

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Picture 23: Naghshe Jahan Sq.

Picture 24: Chehelsotoon Palace

Picture 25: Ali Qapou Palace

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Picture 26: Menar Jonban minarets

Isfahan province has signed sister city agreement with 14 important cities in the world including Freiburg, Florence, St. Petersburg and Barcelona.

Transportation

Connecting North to South and East to West, Esfahan is the junction of roads and railroads between Persian Gulf, Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Modern freeways connect the city to the country's major cities, including the capital Tehran (length approximately 400 km) to the north and Shiraz (200 km) to the south.

Also as a part of the “Silk Road” route in the center of the country, and enjoying the international Air Cargo Terminal, Esfahan is known as the corridor of transit in heart of Iran.

A line of metro that runs for 11 km from north to south opened on October 15, 2015. Two more lines are in construction, alongside with three suburban rail lines.

Picture 27: Isfahan Metro

Esfahan international airport is one of the best equipped international airports in Iran which is constructed for the purpose of providing services to commercial and training flights .The airport's proximity to main industries & science centers has turned it in to one of the most

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crowded airports in Iran, which according to the latest statistic, ranked third in international and fifth in domestic flights.

Picture 28; Isfahan International Airport

Esfahan Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture

International Marketing and Relations Department

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