NPC will celebrate its fortieth anniversary in December 2004. The ceremonies will be held in four days in a row including one day in Mahshahr and another in Assaluyeh where most of the NPC's new projects are located. Senior officials from the Iranian petroleum ministry and NPC will attend the ceremonies. The foundation of Iran's petrochemical industry was laid in 1963 with the construction of a small fertilizer plant in the city of Marvdasht in Shiraz Province. One year later, NPC was founded to manage and make policies for the development of the industry. Since its inception, NPC has rapidly been developing its position as a petrochemical producer. With its current expansion programs it is setting its sights on increasing both its non-oil exports and its share of the global petrochemical market. The ceremonies will include speeches by top-ranking Iranian government officials who will highlight the achievements of the company in the past years as well as the trend of its future activities and programs. At the ceremony, 40 NPC employees will be commended for their services to the industry's development. NPC seeks to use the anniversary to boost the public awareness of its activities and their role in the growth of non-oil revenues. It will unveil a memorial stamp for the occasion. Included in the ceremonies are sports competitions and acknowledgement of the employees' gifted and talented school children.