Members of Iran's Majlis (Parliament) committee on industries and mines visited projects under construction at the Petrochemical Special Economic Zone (PETZONE), in southwest of Iran. The visit included tour of projects being built by NPC and the private sector as well as infrastructural and welfare facilities NPC has constructed or is constructing in the area including a sports complex, a 200-bed hospital, a parkland and a housing project. Committee members also visited Bandar Imam petrochemical complex and its paraxylene plant and MTBE project. During their visit of PETZONE, committee members were briefed on the projects latest developments and progress by managing directors of the NPC subsidiaries which are responsible for implementing and operating the petrochemical projects at PETZONE.

NPC and the German companies ABB Utility Automation GmbH, and Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) GmbH signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for training cooperation. According to the MOU, NPC, ABB and GTZ have agreed to enter into a close cooperation aimed at establishing a training center to train manpower needed by the Iranian petrochemical industry.
The MOU was signed on 13 November at the NPC headquarters. Prior to the signing of the MOU, the delegation from ABB and GTZ met with the NPC president.Moreover ,they took a trip to Mahshahr city and toured NPC projects at PETZONE,and visited Rahavaran-e-Fonoon Co.,an NPC technical training subsidiary. a governmental voctional center in the city of Mahshahr.A visit was also made by the delegates of the German companies to the Tehran-based Rahbaran Co.,which is the NPC's management traning arm.

A delegation from the Royal Dutch Shell Group of companies led by Jeroen van der Veer,Vice Chairman of the Group's Committee of Managing Directors met with Deputy Petroleum Minister and NPC President M.R.Nematzadeh at the NPC's headquarters on 13 November 2001.
The two sides reviewed the latest progress in their negotiations regarding a Gas-to-Liquids(GTL) and an olefin project.They also exchanged views over the future areas of mutual cooperation.
Meanwhile, in a separate meeting on 11 November 2001,Charles Watson,director Shell Gas and Power and M.H.Rahbari,NPC board member and Managing Director of NPC International reviewed the latest updates on the GTL project.