Vice Petroleum Minister Kazem Vaziri Hamaneh said tapping vast oil and gas resources will stabilize post-santions Irans standing in the international markets. In a key note speech to open the 12th International Kish Energy Exhibition (ENEX 2016), he said, “These rich resources can meet the domestic needs and pave the ground for an increase in international interactions.” “In the post-sanctions setting, objective and meaningful use of hydrocarbon resources, active private sector in the oil and gas sector, and enhancement of public and private sectors’ relations will facilitate economic growth,” he told participants of the exhibition. The four-day event is participated by 195 domestic and foreign companies to introduce investment opportunities and capacities as well as achievements by manufacturers and producers of oil, gas, petrochemical, water, electric, and new energies. The 35 foreign firms which are taking part in the event come from Italy, China, Pakistan, Turkey, the Netherlands, India, South Korea, Taiwan, Azerbaijan, Malaysia, France, Austria, the UAE, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Australia, Russia, UK, Japan, Portugal, Canada, Kuwait, and Switzerland. Vaziri Hamaneh also said that the Sixth Economic Development Plan which starts next year is emphasizing the role of young human resources and a shift in the way oil and gas revenues will be spent within the Resistive Economy outlook. “The Ministry of Petroleum has been focusing on upstream projects including development of joint fields and downstream plans of construction of refineries and petrochemical units,” said the former minister of petroleum. In a message to ENEX 2016, Head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali-Akbar Salehi also said that Iran is about to open a new chapter in its international relations and in playing a decisive role in the energy world’s future. The vice president called for a strategic vision in outlining Iran’s energy sectors long-term plans.