Planning, developing and implementing health and safety training programs and standards have become a part and parcel of the operations within NPC and its subsidiaries. The programs are crucial in creating a safe work environment for the employees to assume the responsibility for the identification and minimization of hazards. To this effect, the fire personnel across the NPC companies are being trained in "Fire Fighting and Rescue Techniques" by Fire Service College, UK. So far, two groups of 20 personnel each have completed the training courses and a next group is going to commence the program on 28th May. Also a five-day "Auxiliary Fire Fighting Training" course was carried out in Amir Kabir & Tabriz plants. The trained persons will form "Auxiliary Fire Squad" (AFS). The objective of this program is to make dedicated AFS members, which will help the fire personnel in tackling emergencies. All the NPC subsidiaries have been urged to train the operators and make them AFS member by the end of the current year. Besides, in Shahid Tondguyan Petrochemical Co. (STPC), another NPC subsidiary, a professional safety training course on Hydrogen Safety and Safety in "Loading Unloading of Hydrocarbons" was conducted. Moreover, Arthur D. Little Limited, UK a well known firm in safety and risk analysis is being engaged for imparting the safety training and creating safety awareness for top and line management. The training program is scheduled to kick off on 14th June. Also, a Canadian firm, Safety Boss has been invited to help improve safety at plants which are being constructed. They will be given direct responsibility to implement and ensure the safety management at construction sites in Assaluyeh. They will also give training to NPC staff about construction management and develop construction safety management systems with collaboration of NPC employees.


NPC's full year exports revenues reached a record level of over $1.75bn in the Iranian calendar year of 1383 (20 March 2004-20 March 2005) registering an increase of 43% over the previous year. NPC exported 5.4m tonnes of various products to a diverse portfolio of customers worldwide. The main export destinations included Japan (21.3%), China (20%), the Middle East (14%), South Korea and Taiwan (14%), South East Asia (7%), Africa (4.3%), Europe (3.5%), and the rest of the world 3.9%. Meanwhile, NPC President M. R. Nematzadeh says the company's aim is to raise annual revenues from petrochemical exports to over $2.5-3bn in the current fiscal year which ends in March 2006.


NPC has entered into seven new sales and marketing agency agreements for its polymer products in Europe, Africa, Japan and Latin America. The agreements aim to expand NPC's market presence in these regions. In the meantime, NPC commercial arm, PCC has signed long-term contracts for the supply of methanol, paraxylene, benzene, LPG, naphtha, DPG, heavy ends, ammonia and melamine. Among other destinations, the products, especially the methanol, will be marketed in Europe, India and South East Asia. This is the first time that NPC exports its methanol to the said markets on the long-term supply basis.
Lord Mayor of London Michael Berry Savory who was leading a British business team to Iran to promote the British capital's financial services and industry, paid a visit to Pars Special Economic Energy Zone on April 26, where he also site-toured the projects which are being developed there including the NPC's petrochemical facilities. During his visit, Mr. Savory was provided firsthand information on the latest activities on the projects. The visit came after the Iranian Ambassador to London Mohammad Hossein Adeli outlined major financial service opportunities in Iran at a briefing hosted by Islamic Republic of Iran's Embassy at the European-based international bank, Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein in London in April 2005. Adeli told a cross selection of business delegates that Iran was a major partner for financial business due to its economic environment for growth. The Lord Mayor presides over the Corporation of London, which provides local government services for the city's financial and commercial center. The visiting Lord Mayor of London expressed his country's keen support for a boost in Iran-UK bilateral economic cooperation.