IRAN NEWS ECONOMIC DESK

TEHRAN – First Vice-President Eshaq Jahangiri has urged producers to focus more on standardization of their products for entering the international markets.

Speaking in a meeting on marking the World Standards Day, Jahangiri underscored the significance of paying attention to the standardization issue during producing different products, adding that standard and quality for those industrial and production units which are after entering the international markets is a very crucial issue.

He added that people in the country today attach serious attention to the standard mark on the goods and products and this sensitivity in the society has increased so that people pay attention not only to the standards of the goods but also to the brands of products.

Jahangiri added that Institute of Standards and Industrial Research of Iran (ISIRI) should have special sensitivity on the standardization of domestic productions, notifying that neighboring countries like Afghanistan, Turkey, Iraq and Republic of Azerbaijan are of the important export destinations of Iran and it is necessary that all organs like ISIRI should reach agreements with Iran’s exporting target destinations in order to ease the process of exports for exporters.

He also hailed the head of ISIRI and all staff of the institute for their actions in the domestic and international scenes, stipulating that good achievements of the institute show that a female manager can have good records and performance in her job, and satisfaction of economic activists from ISIRI is a proof to this claim.

Jahangiri then pointed to the problems and woes ahead of the country, saying that on the one side, the country is facing with the challenges resulted by the economic war that fortunately the production cycle and national economy has not come to a halt and it is still active due to the endeavors of economic activists and producers.

He added that on the other hand, the outbreak of Coronavirus has had damaging effects both on the health of the society and on national economy. Jahangiri noted that it is painful to see that everyday some of our compatriots lose their lives, adding that it is necessary for all people and officials to observe all health protocols in a condition that Coronavirus is spiking.

He also termed exporters as the soldiers in the fronts of the economic war in the country, reiterating that the forex resulted from the non-oil exports should return to the national economic cycle. He also urged all officials in any job and post to facilitate the way for producers and exporters.

Jahangiri also pointed to the recent report released by Iran Statistical Center regarding the decline in the number of workforces in this summer comparing it to the same period in the preceding year, and noted this year 1.2m people have lost their jobs, adding this has happened in most of industrial countries and even in some countries the amount of unemployment has been ten times more than Iran’s.

He added the number of unemployment in last summer was 2.9m people but this year it has been 2.477m and maybe it is because some people have preferred to stop searching for jobs due to the virus pandemic.

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IRAN NEWS ECONOMIC DESK

TEHRAN – First Vice-President Eshaq Jahangiri yesterday urged the exporters to return forex earned from exports to the national economy.

Speaking at a ceremony marking the national Industry, Mine and Trade Day, Jahangiri felicitated the day, adding that the country is experiencing one of its toughest and critical era as it is challenging with the U.S. unilateral and cruel sanctions and the outbreak of Coronavirus.

He further said Americans thought they could make Iran economy collapse but the government changed its policies based on the condition and a wise politician should adopt policies to fit with conditions and the plots.

Jahangiri noted that currently, Iran’s policy is to resist against the pressures and to find mechanism to decrease pressure on the people.

He added that the 12th government under President Hassan Rouhani has created some 3.5 million jobs.

Pointing out that protecting the health of people and their livelihood is a top priority of the government, Jahangiri said that the government makes every effort to maintain the existing jobs during these tough times.

He said the Coronavirus has affected all economic, social, political and cultural sectors worldwide but Iranians have resisted against it proudly and will continue resistance.

He noted that foreign policy is determinant in the industrial and economic policies.

Jahangiri also called exporters as the soldiers of the economic war front line as they are involved in fighting against the Americans and should be praised.

He said need of forex is one of the pressures during the sanctions and coronavirus era, and provision of forex for the country while the pressures of sanctions on oil exports is high and it is on the shoulder of exporters.

He said the country expects exporters to return their forex earned through exports into the national economy.

He reiterated that industry sector shone during the Coronavirus pandemic era as the producers did miracle in four months by multiplying the products.

Jahangiri said the government has created 500,000 jobs per year despite restricted sources. He further said Iran is a rich country with abundant wealth and it is among ten countries in terms of its metal mines.

Meanwhile in a Monday evening meeting with members of the Iranian Chamber of Commerce, Jahangiri said the U.S. government had plans for economic collapse of Iran through harsh and targeted sanctions, but the plot has ended in total failure.

“By the grace of God and with resistance from the great Iranian nation and the determination of all officials and the private sector, the American objective resulted in failure,” the vice president added.

While the outbreak of coronavirus has dealt a heavy blow to the world’s major and large economies, the pandemic, coupled with the sanctions, has harmed Iran’s economy as well, Jahangiri noted, saying the Iranian economy has been able to withstand the pressures and is going to overcome the problems.

“What is important is that all of us would try to help the country get through such difficult stage with success,” he noted.

The vice president also praised the Iranian private sector, exporters and importers for serving the country’s economy, saying the administration is doing its utmost to support and empower the private sector.

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IRAN NEWS NATIONAL DESK

TEHRAN – First Vice-President Eshaq Jahangiri says that the U.S. sanctions inflicted damages on Iranian economy, but, the US failed to achieve its goals as the country has stood strongly.

Sanctions could just harm the Iranian economy but failed to make it fall down, Jahangiri said at a ceremony held in Tehran Saturday on introducing the new head of foundation for martyrs and war veterans affairs.

The government is making efforts to undertake the pressures from the sanctions and shift it from shoulders of the people, Jahangiri added.

He said that the United States- old foe of Iran- has been trying in vain to make Iranian nation’s progress stagnant.

Concerning the regional developments, Jahangiri said that Saudis and Zionists in the region have joined hands and made plots against Iran in different periods.

Referring to the recent anti-Iran plot hatched by the United States which is no longer a member of the July 2015 nuclear deal as it withdrew unilaterally from the deal, Jahangiri said Iran can buy its arms needs or sell its indigenous products from next few months after arms embargo against Iran are lifted despite the US attempt to extend the embargo.

He touched on the critical conditions created across the world by coronavirus pandemic since Dec 2019, saying that the virus has put the world’s greatest economies in danger.

He further described the U.S. sanctions as virus worse than COVID-19.

He stressed that coherence and unity inside the country as well as the Supreme Leader’s guidelines can help the nation breeze through the difficulties.

Washington’s so-called maximum pressure campaign against Tehran officially started when Republican President Donald Trump unilaterally pulled his country out of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in May 2018.

Tehran maintains that its nuclear program is merely peaceful as also asserted by other signatories of the JCPOA.

Ever since withdrawing from the agreement, Washington has been trying to bring Iran to the negotiation table for a new deal.

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In his Tuesday message to Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia, Jahangiri congratulated the South Caucasus country on its National Day, reported Tasnim News Agency.

He also highlighted the political will of the two countries’ senior officials for the enhancement of ties and the history of mutual cooperation between the two neighbors, expressing hope that employment of the available potentials would result in the enhancement of relations in various fields, particularly the economic and trade sectors.

Iran and Georgia have close political and economic ties and there are hundreds of companies registered by Iranians in Georgia.

Iran’s deputy minister of roads and urban development and Georgia’s deputy minister of economy discussed the latest situation of transportation of goods and passengers between the two countries in a virtual meeting last week.

At the virtual meeting, which was also attended by Iranian Ambassador to Tbilisi  Javad Qavam Shahidi, the two sides presented a report on the latest measures taken to comply with health protocols at their borders with neighboring countries after the outbreak of the coronavirus and stressed the need to resume trade between the two countries by creating “green corridors.”

Explaining the measures taken at Iran’s borders with neighboring countries and the effective implementation of health care and services for reopening borders, Iran’s Deputy Minister of Roads and Urban Development Abdol-Hashem Hassan-Nia called for facilitating the entry of Iran’s transit fleet into Georgia in compliance with health regulations.

The Iranian ambassador to Georgia also stressed the importance of launching a “green corridor” for the two countries’ trade and transit fleets as soon as possible and called on the two sides to work together to solve the problems of transporting goods, services, and passengers.

Emphasizing the importance of Iran’s status for Georgia in trade and tourism, Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, Akaki Saghirashvili referred to recent decisions made by the Corona Virus Coordination Headquarters to gradually reduce restrictions and said that the decision to lift restrictions on tourism and transit would be made in coordination with the country’s Ministry of Health.

While welcoming the activation of the Green Corridor project, he said that its realization is one of the priorities of the Georgian government in the field of transportation.

Saghirashvili also stressed the need to increase rail capacity and make the most of it in the field of transportation between the two countries.

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IRAN NEWS ECONOMIC DESK

TEHRAN – First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri says the government emphasizes non-oil exports and it will support non-oil exports despite its budget limitation.

Jahangiri said that Iran needs export of non-oil commodities in the current year [started March 21, 2020] more than any other time and non-oil export is the main and top priority of the government.

He made the remarks in a meeting with the minister of industry, mine and trade, deputies and senior managers of the ministry and added, “non-oil exports should be put atop agenda as a serious and determining issue. Although the government has budget restrictions in this field, it will support non-oil export.”

Export to neighboring countries is the main aim of the government, he said, adding, “With the planning made in this regard, Iran must export $48 billion worth of non-oil products to neighboring countries by 2021.”

He pointed to the economic recession in post-corona era and said, “if the country faces any reduction in export of petrochemical products and metals in post-corona period, we should prepare ourselves to compensate shortfalls with more focusing on export of non-oil commodities and provide required currency resources.”

The Ministry of Industry managed to provide basic goods and commodities of people during coronavirus outbreak especially at the condition that Iran is grappling with economic war with the United States, Jahangiri stressed.

He went on to say the government will support private sector and those who are active in import and export as forerunners in countering sanctions and coronavirus condition.

He added that all should work together to boost the society and economy’s resistance against Coronavirus and supporting the weak layers of the society should be prioritized despite all restrictions.

Jahangiri reiterated that undoubtedly, private sector and trade activists especially importers and exporters are frontline fighters because they have supported the country during the sanctions and Coronavirus outbreak.

He added that the government’s main target is to boost exports to neighboring states as the industry ministry planned and Iran’s exports to 15 neighboring states should hit $48b by 2021 and all should work harder in the post-Coronavirus era to boost any decline in the non-oil exports.

Jahangiri reiterated that those who get official rate forex to import goods and ignore it are traitors and should be punished.

He noted that all should oppose corruption and to fight with it and the government is pioneer in transparency and fight with corruption.

Jahangiri also urged domestic media to avoid preparing stuff for foreign media for questioning Iran’s government and establishment.

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IRAN NEWS ECONOMIC DESK

TEHRAN – Finance and Economic Affairs Minister Farhad Dejpasand believes smart economy can be the only option for surge in production, adding that the government is to reconsider about ownership of at least 20 percent of properties.

In meeting with First Vice-President Eshaq Jahangiri, Mr. Dejpasand said that the government is to reconsider in ownership of  20 percent of its government, adding that the government is after easing the customs process by removing harmful and unnecessary supervisions.

After presenting a report on the national economy and the ministry’s performance, he said that the goal behind attracting foreign investment is not only for filling the gap of investment in the market but foreign investment is a tool and mechanism for transfer of technology to the country and to help the growth and effective development and boost efficiency.

He added that the minister moves, while he is restricted, and any minister is in charge only for a certain period but he and his ministry should ease the business climate otherwise it will disappoint the investors.

Dejpasand reiterated that all issues for investment from its A to Z should be eased for investor in order that he does not need to go to the ministry. He added that the ministry did considerable efforts last year and this year in cooperation with the Judiciary it wants to launch a trade court as well as a unified e-window for trade which gives this opportunity to investors to get necessary licenses without going to the offices.

He admitted that executive bodies are still involved in bureaucracy and some of licenses act like hurdles and they should be removed.

Dejpasand added that the government has started measures to remove hurdles in way of investment and undoing the ties and called for a smart economy.

He reiterated that smart economy is not just a slogan and some people think it is a fantasy while it is the only shortcut for the surge in production.

He stated that his ministry’s model is not Malaysian economy but if Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad had not digitalized Malaysia’s economy, the country would have not achieved such a progress.

Dejpasand added that in 1982, Iran was at the top and Malaysia was very lower but today any Iranian citizen is proud of going to Malaysia to study in Malaysian universities.

He said today 58 percent of economic activists are involved in the green corridor of the Customs Administration, noting if the blue corridor in the Customs Administration is launched, most of harmful supervisions will be removed, emphasizing the customs system should be smartized.

He concluded if only 20 percent of the government properties is privatized and joins the economic cycle, it will boost the economy.

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IRAN NEWS NATIONAL DESK

TEHRAN – First Vice-President Eshaq Jahangiri said on Saturday that the Iranian economy grew last year despite all the pressures on the country.

Speaking during a meeting with Minister of Economy Farhad Dejpasand and his deputies in Tehran, Jahangiri referred to pressure of US sanctions on the country. However, he noted that the inflation rate became decreasing in the third quarter of the last Iranian calendar year.

He said that the country’s economic growth became positive both including oil and excluding oil during the third quarter of the year, so that it witnessed a 3.3% economic growth excluding oil and a 1.3% economic growth including oil revenue.

The country’s economic growth over the first three quarters of the past Iranian year was positive excluding oil and negative including oil, the vice-president said.

He said that some 470,000 jobs were created in Iran over the past year so that the country’s unemployment rate experienced a rise during the period.

While the Iranian officials hoped a more reduced inflation rate, a better economic growth and an improved unemployment rate as well as foreign investment in the new year, the country faced the coronavirus disease outbreak which is globally regarded as an important concern, Jahangiri said.

It is said that the post-coronavirus world will be much different from the pre-coronavirus world, the official said, noting that the phenomenon will most probably leave decisive impacts on the world order.

Jahangiri even cited some European and American officials as saying that the coronavirus outbreak has been the greatest challenge facing the human kind after the World War II.

The pandemic is any way regarding as the greatest global challenge which everyone is predicting leading to serious economic recession in world economies, the vice-president said.

He also emphasized that the more transparent the performance of the companies and the more they are available to the public, the more efficient they will be.

Jahniri noted that as much as managers are concerned about top managers, they are 10 times more likely to be concerned by public opinion because they know everyone has a fair judgment about their management.

He said that state-owned companies are a large group whose assets are several times the budget of the country, adding that the Ministry of Economy is doing good work for state-owned companies to make a big difference.

“2,700 thousand billion tomans are their assets. When these companies are the assets of the government, it means that every year they must give a benefit to the government so that the government spends in the budget,” Jahangiri added.

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According To Iran News, Iran’s First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri assured people that the country is not going to face any shortage of basic commodities in the current Iranian year (started March 20), particularly amid the outbreak of the coronavirus.

Speaking at a meeting held on Tuesday to discuss the plans carried out by the Iranian Customs Office in the fight against the coronavirus, Jahangiri said detailed plans have been formulated to fulfill the country’s need for basic commodities this year.

He said while people in the other countries swarmed the stores after the outbreak of COVID-19 and snapped up all goods on the shelves, the shops in Iran did not face any problem and all basic commodities have been supplied seamlessly.

The vice president further said certain countries are so ruthless that they denied Iran’s access to the foreign currency resources after the outbreak of the coronavirus in order to foment a crisis and impair the Islamic Republic’s ability to supply the necessary commodities, but the situation marked a milestone in the country’s management strategies, as people did not witness any shortage of goods although the grocery shopping across Iran rose by five times higher than the normal days.

In comments on April 4, Minister of Roads and Urban Development Mohamamd Eslami said Iran’s ports are stuffed full of basic commodities and trucks and trains are queuing up to carry the shipments into the country.

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According To Iran News, The Central Bank of Iran (CBI) approved emergency funding worth nearly $5 billion to offer cheap loans to businesses hit by the new coronavirus pandemic.

CBI governor Abdolnasser Hemmati said on Thursday that major lenders in the country would start giving the loans “in the earliest time possible”.

The loans will be offered at a heap rate of 12 percent, said Hemmati, with a repayment period of two years, Press TV reported.

He said the decision came after a high-level government meeting earlier in the day on the economic measures needed to respond to the virus pandemic in Iran.

The announcement came after Iranian president Hassan Rouhani said earlier on Thursday that cheap loans will be available to businesses and manufacturing units soon to help them cope with the impacts of the pandemic.

Rouhani said at a cabinet meeting that the government would ask for nearly $1 billion worth of support package from Iran’s severing wealth fund.

Iranian Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri, who chairs the special economic committee of the government on coronavirus, said that the loans could reach a total of 1,000 trillion rials (6.25 billion).

Jahangiri said part of the funds would go to benefits to people who have lost their jobs and others could cover urgent necessities in the health sector.

The new funds come on top of previous government measures to help families affected by the outbreak of the new coronavirus and finances provided to the health ministry for imports of vital medical equipment and drugs needed to fight the virus.

Nearly 30,000 Iranians have been tested positive for the new coronavirus, known as COVID-19, since the infection was spotted in the country last month.

More than 10,000 have recovered from the illness while more than 2,200 patients have died, based on latest figures provided by the Iranian health authorities as of Thursday.

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