Analysis of the Production Chains and Industrial Clusters (Case Study of Khuzestan Province)

The aim of this research is to analyze the production chains and industrial clusters using comparative advantage criteria, competitive effect and cumulative effect by applying the methodology of regional growth theory. For this idea, we collected the industrial workshops statistics in the province of Khuzestan in 2002 and 2004 and potential existence of industrial clusters has been observed. On the whole, the results show that the cleaning, grading and packing processes in the case of dates are considered which is a main industrial cluster in the province (specially in Shadegan). Using this methodology, results show that the brick production, plastic products and forging iron and steel can be candidates for industrial clusters in Ahvaz. Also noting that industrial clusters are related to industries which produce homogeneous products in small and medium scales, and are related to private sector. Moreover, the result indicates that the industrial clusters characteristics do not suit with the huge processing such as steel and petrochemical industries.