The president of Iran Chamber of Commerce on Monday called on the government to take urgent steps to prevent an “alarming” rise in the tax burden on businesses before the draft budget for the next financial year is submitted to parliament.
Samad Hassanzadeh said Industry Minister Mohammad Atabak had taken “correct positions” during critical periods over the past year, and argued that the ministry’s focus on maintaining the viability of companies had been one of its key missions.
Speaking at the first ceremony honoring top-performing SMEs, attended by the first vice president, Hassanzadeh said small and medium-sized enterprises account for 99.5% of Iran’s businesses and provide about 85% of the country’s employment. While medium-sized firms drive competitiveness and productivity, he said, major industries remain the engine of growth in most economies.
Hassanzadeh added that Iran’s SME development model should shift toward gradually increasing the share of medium and large companies in the economy, saying policymakers should not focus solely on the creation of micro and small firms but also adopt fundamental plans to help them grow.