Omid Ahmadi, director-general of Khuzestan’s Economic Affairs and Finance Department, said on Monday that 11 foreign investment licences worth $785mn were approved during the period. The realisation rate — actual funds transferred and deployed — stood at $12.8mn, reflecting the wide gap between authorisations and capital inflows, a common challenge in Iran’s sanctioned economy.

Speaking to Shada, the official news outlet of Iran’s Ministry of Economic Affairs and Finance, Ahmadi said the majority of foreign investors originated from China, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq and Turkey. Their activities focused on industry, solar energy and agriculture, with projects located in the counties of Mahshahr, Ahvaz, Abadan, Shush, Dezful, Behbahan, Shadegan, Khorramshahr and Ramhormoz.

Ahmadi added that between 2018 and 2026, a total of 51 foreign investment licences worth $8.56bn were approved, of which $124.6mn was eventually realised.