Minister of Industry, Mine and Trade, Mohammad Atabak, underscored the government’s commitment to greater cooperation with the private sector on Monday during a meeting with senior officials from Iran’s Chamber of Commerce in Tehran.
Speaking alongside deputy ministers at the gathering, which included members of the Chamber’s executive board, heads of specialized commissions, and provincial chamber leaders, Atabak said Iran have moved beyond a period of basic challenges and is now preparing to deal with what he referred to as “super-challenges”.
“We have the capacity to overcome these super-challenges by leveraging existing national capabilities,” the minister said.
Atabak emphasized the role of the private sector in shaping preferential trade agreements, particularly with regional countries. “We actively consult with the private sector in drafting these agreements because we believe there is real export potential across various industrial sectors,” he said.
He reiterated that the government does not intend to operate production facilities itself, instead encouraging private investment and participation in industrial projects. “The state should not become a factory owner,” Atabak said. “We are relying on the private sector to take the lead and join us in executing development plans.”
The minister also criticized past policies aimed at curbing inflation through tight monetary controls, arguing that limiting liquidity had slowed the circulation of capital.
“Injecting capital into the economy will stimulate production, improve economic indicators, and help increase GDP”, he said, referring to Turkey’s experience of boosting its GDP despite soaring inflation.
Atabak acknowledged that currency volatility continues to affect both producers and households, describing the issue as having both internal and external dimensions. He stressed the need for stability in foreign exchange markets to support economic resilience.