Iran Foreign Trade Down by 44%
IRAN NEWS ECONOMIC DESK
TEHRAN – Head of Tehran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (TCCIMA) Mr. Masoud Khansari says the country needs foreign investment especially in mine, oil, gas and steel sectors as the country is facing with more poverty and currently 6 deciles of the society are living under the poverty line.
During yesterday meeting of TCCIMA, Mr. Khansari said that Iran’s revenues in exporting oil, gas and condensates witnessed $32b decrease last year comparing to its preceding year.
He noted that according to Iran Customs Administration reports, the foreign trade in the first quarter of the current year stood at $13.98b as $6.4b was the share of exports and $7.6 was imports’ share which shows 44 percent decline in the foreign trade volume. He reiterated that at the same time, the liquidity has soared and the total volume of liquidity last year was over 2470b tomans which shows 31 percent growth and statistics in the first quarter of the current year indicate that if this trend continues, the country will see 32 percent growth in liquidity and by the yearend, the figure will stand at $3200b.
Khansari also noted that according to the World Bank forecast, Iran’s economic growth has been predicted at minus 5.3 percent and by the yearend it will rise to minus 17 percent.
He then pointed to some inflammation in gold, housing and forex market, adding that the officials should pay close attention to this point otherwise the country will face super inflation.
He then pointed to Iran-China 25-Year strategic agreement, he said some pre-judgements have happened on this issues, reiterating that it was not an agreement and it was just a draft and MoU which should be sealed by Majlis and one should take into consideration that development will be impossible without foreign investment and arrival of new technologies.
Khansari added that the country is facing with growing poverty it and six deciles of the society are living under the poverty line, noting that the country needs foreign investment and the country needs investment in mining, oil, gas, and steel sectors.
He further said that over 3,000 tourism centers exist in the country but the country has the least number of tourists.
Khansari also warned over contracts with foreigners, reiterating that contracts should be based on the national interests and without being influenced by the propagandas. He noted that if the country is after compromise it should have an alternative, too.
He also reacted to the government’s claim that some $27b resulted from the exports have not been repatriated, reiterating such attitudes and behaviors will dishearten exporters and it may threaten national interests.
