TEHRAN (Iran News) – Since the beginning of the current Iranian year (March 20, 2020), the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) has paid $14.5 billion for basic and essential goods, despite the coronavirus and its associated problems, said Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday.
Rouhani noted that many countries have experienced negative economic growth during the coronavirus pandemic and their economies have shrunk by nine, 13 and 14 percent, but in the Islamic Republic of Iran, despite all the pressures and sanctions in the first quarter of the current year, only a drop of 1.7 percent has been witnessed, according to president.ir.
In recent months, the industry, agriculture and services sector have grown, Rouhani said, adding that it is possible that if we continue with this trend, we will achieve positive non-oil growth by the end of the current year (March 20, 2021).
The CBI statistics show that the growth of the monetary base in the first five months of this Iranian year (March 20-August 21, 2020) compared to the end of last year was equal to 2.9 percent; this indicates the correct path of the country’s economic trend, he said.
In the 11th and 12th governments very good steps have been taken in terms of the sustainable supply of safe water, electricity, gas, rural roads, health, education and communication networks for villages, Rouhani said.
He noted that in recent months, valuable measures have been taken for employment, which will continue vigorously.
With the government’s measures, the share of rural employment in the country’s employment has increased from three percent to 25 percent, the president said.
He called on all members of the government, deputies, and provincial officials to increase their efforts to make leaps in the fields of agriculture, industry and employment, adding that good measures have been taken in these areas, which we must continue, and, if other forces help, it would accelerate.
The government has plans to strengthen Iran’s economy that we hope will be implemented with the help of the other branches of power, Rouhani concluded.
- source : Iran Daily
