Tehran: Iran will inaugurate 37 industrial, mining and infrastructure projects across 11 provinces during Government Week, the Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO) announced. The projects are valued at $1.4 billion and are expected to expand production capacity while creating more than 2,000 direct jobs, IMIDRO President Mohammad Masoud Samiei-Nejad said on Saturday. According to Islamic Republic News Agency, the investments reflect the strategic role of mining in Iran's economy and long-term industrial development. Speaking at the closing ceremony of the Media, Mining and Mineral Industries festival, Samiei-Nejad emphasized that mining is a significant chain of production and wealth creation, beyond just extracting stone and soil. He warned that disruption in any part of the mining and industrial supply chain can have wide economic consequences. He noted that damage to major steel facilities during the recent conflict affected thousands of industrial units bo th directly and indirectly. Samiei-Nejad also highlighted the government's focus on addressing structural challenges, including policy imbalance, uneven industrial development, and the location of energy-intensive industries. There is a greater emphasis on productivity, value-added production, and advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence. He concluded by stating that reconstruction of damaged facilities in the steel production chain is underway, with efforts to return all affected units to operation by the end of the year.