Iran, South Korea to roll out prefabricated construction cooperation
Iran and South Korea are set to implement a cooperation agreement on industrialized construction, including the use of prefabricated building methods, to improve the strength and earthquake resistance of buildings in Iran, an official with Iran's Chamber of Cooperatives said on Saturday.
" South Korean officials are due to visit Iran in the coming days to begin implementing a bilateral agreement on industrialized construction," Mojtaba Mahallati, deputy head of Iran's Chamber of Cooperatives, was quoted as saying by Fars news agency.
Iran's Ministry of Roads and Urban Development had previously signed a memorandum of understanding with Seoul to transfer South Korean knowledge and technology to Iran and build structures using industrial methods and updated construction technologies, according to Fars. The agreement, however, has not yet become operational.
The Chamber of Cooperatives has invited South Korean ambassadors and officials to the 26th International Construction Exhibition, scheduled to be held in Tehran from Aug. 18 to 21, where the implementation of the agreement is expected to be launched in their presence.
Representatives from China, South Korea, Turkey, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Oman and Russia will participate in the exhibition, which will showcase the latest construction technologies and expertise from participating countries.
The event will also provide a platform for promoting exports of Iranian construction products to markets including Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Oman.
Iran has repeatedly faced challenges related to building safety during natural disasters, particularly earthquakes. The country is located in one of the world's most seismically active zones, and weak enforcement of construction standards, quality control issues for building materials and non-compliance with engineering regulations have been cited as factors reducing the resilience of some buildings against earthquakes and other natural hazards.