Referring to the “exceptional” economic situation of Iran, President of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (ICCIMA) Gholam Hossein Shafei said on Friday that the country’s private sector is ready to help save and promote the Iranian economy.
Speaking to ICCIMA news website on the occasion of the National Government Week, Shafei said that the people, the private sector, and the government have no more room for trial and error and have to contribute to improving the country’s economy.
He appreciated the economic team of the new government, saying President Ebrahim Raeisi avoided the limited circle of former governments in selecting his economic team and other ministers.
He, however, noted that reforming the country’s economic structure is a more important step that have to be taken.
“The economy must become popular, and economic actors must play a decisive role in the country's economy," Shafei said. "Contrary to what is generally said, the private sector is not being consulted now.”
Many economic problems will be solved if the private sector is accepted as a trusted advisor to the government, Shafei said.
“The success of the country is directly related to the economy and, of course, to the position of the private sector,” he added.
Iran's parliament has approved almost all new President Ebrahim Raeisi's cabinet choices, enabling him to start working with his government.
Ebrahim Raeisi won a June 18 election and succeeded Hassan Rouhani, architect of the political opening that culminated in the 2015 nuclear agreement between Tehran and major powers.
Iran has been strangled financially by sanctions reimposed by Washington after then US president Donald Trump pulled out of a multilateral nuclear deal in 2018.
The country of 83 million people has since been hit by a severe economic crisis amplified by the Covid pandemic.