Minister Hails Economic Growth Despite Sanctions

Date: 26 January 2019 - 21:00

News ID: ۶۲۴۹۳

TEHRAN (Dispatches)- Iran’s Economy Minister Farhad Dejpasand syas the country’s trade balance has improved in the last 10 months of the current Iranian calendar year (started on March 21, 2018), boasting that the plots to cut the country’s oil revenues to zero have failed.
Dejpasand said that Iran’s non-oil exports have increased over the past ten months up to January 20 and 85 percent of its imports pertain to raw materials.
Addressing a gathering of Hormuzgan province’s business persons and investors, the minister said the enemies were unable to lower Iran’s oil exports down to zero, as the oil sales continue as before.
Stressing the need for using capacities of the free zones, he added that profits from economic progress in the zones should be injected to the country’s economy.
Referring to the country’s positive trade balance of 900 million dollars in the current Iranian calendar year, he said, "This has not taken place because of a decline in imports; rather due to increase in exports and this is very meaningful.”
Describing smuggling as the major challenge facing the local investors and producers, Dejpasand added that smuggling deals heavy blows to the country’s economy.