Younes Jaele


Younes Jaele is an Iranian businessman and industrialist. He is the founder and chairman of the Shirin Asal Food Industrial Group, a food manufacturing company based in Tabriz. Jaele also serves as the President of the Tabriz Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture and has been a candidate for the presidency of the national Iran Chamber of Commerce.

Early life

Jaele was born on 19 November 1962 in Tabriz, East Azerbaijan province. He enrolled at the Tabriz University of Medical Sciences to study medicine but did not complete the degree, leaving to pursue business ventures in the food manufacturing sector. He established a small production workshop in 1990 which became the precursor to his current company.

Business career

Shirin Asal Food Industrial Group

In 1990, Jaele founded the Shirin Asal Food Industrial Group. The company expanded from confectionery production to include supply chain operations such as cocoa bean processing, dairy farming, and distribution. As of 2024, the company is one of the largest employers in the East Azerbaijan region and exports products to markets in Asia, Europe, and Africa.

Moghan Agro-Industrial acquisition

In 2018, Jaele's company won a privatization auction to acquire the Moghan Agro-Industrial & Livestock Company, a large state-owned enterprise in Ardabil province. The deal was valued at approximately 18,000 billion Iranian rials.
The transaction became a subject of national controversy. Critics, including members of the Iranian Parliament and local labor unions, alleged that the asset was undervalued and the bidding process lacked transparency. Following an investigation by the State Inspectorate Organization and subsequent legal proceedings, the privatization was annulled in October 2020. The Iranian judiciary ordered the return of the company's assets to the government.

Public life

Chamber of Commerce

In March 2019, Jaele was elected President of the Tabriz Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture. In this capacity, he has advocated for increased trade relations between Iran, Turkey, and the Caucasus.
He has twice stood for election as President of the national Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture :
  • 2019 election: Jaele received 140 votes, losing to Gholam Hossein Shafei.
  • 2023 election: Jaele received 95 votes, finishing second to Hossein Selahvarzi, who secured 265 votes.

Awards

  • Amin al-Zarb Medal : Awarded by the Tehran Chamber of Commerce for entrepreneurship.
  • Distinguished National Exporter: Selected by the Trade Promotion Organization of Iran.