Hadi Beiginejad, who made the remarks in an interview, added the Oil Ministry provided considerable support to the country’s knowledge-based firms over the yearlong period, ranking first among other ministries in backing the elite and knowledge-based companies.

He said the Oil Ministry signed good contracts with domestic knowledge-based companies and foreign countries, including neighboring states during the year.

Beiginejad, also a member of the Parliament’s Energy Committee, hailed the ministry for exporting technical and engineering services to other countries, said the approach not only increased the country’s revenues, but also developed its technical know-how.

Earlier, Oil Minister Javad Owji said his ministry’s “umbrella is open to fully protect domestic companies that present knowledge-based and environmental plans”.

According to the minister, more than 660 knowledge-based companies are now cooperating with the Oil Ministry.