Iran has launched the 15th edition of its International Electricity Exhibition, reported Press TV.

The event is being hosted by Minister of Energy Hamid Chitchian in the Iranian capital, Tehran, on Sunday.

Chitchian said Iran’s power generation industry has greatly progressed during recent years and at present its products and services are being used in 36 countries in support of their power distribution networks, power plants and transmission lines.

He explained that the main goal of the exhibition was boosting cooperation between Iranian and foreign companies in order to promote the quality of domestic energy-industry products.

Unless it engages in exchanges with international companies active in the field, the Iranian power industry will fail to be competitive at the international level, he said.

According to Tasnim News Agency, Iran ranks first in the Middle East in terms of electricity generation and is the 15th largest electricity producer in the world.

The exhibition involves 341 domestic firms and representatives from several countries, including South Korea, Turkey, China, Germany, Spain, Slovenia, Sweden, Taiwan, Czech Republic, Canada, Ukraine, Belgium, Finland and Holland.

Located at Tehran’s Permanent International Fairgrounds, the event showcases a wide range of products and services, including: electrical power; electronics; electrical substations; power distribution and control; process control products; electricity measuring; automation systems and equipment; lighting systems; maintenance and services; as well as renewables and new energy systems.