Iran selects among its economic partners based on national interests

Iran is now in a position that it has the power to select among its economic partners based on national interests, Iran’s government spokesman and head of the Management and Planning Organization Mohammad Baqer Nobakht said.

“Our conditions have changed compared to the past. In the post-sanctions era we are not faced with just a few companies. There are numerous companies now and we have the power to select among them,” Iran’s IRNA news agency quoted Nobakht as saying July 28.

“Undoubtedly, the country follows its national interests both in political and economic negotiations. So, we will choose a company which provides us the best investment offers,” he added.

After several months of talks, on July 14, Iran and the P5+1 (US, Russia, China, France, UK, and Germany) announced a final accord, curbing Iran 's nuclear program in exchange for lifting of most international sanctions.

President Hassan Rouhani has emphasized that the Iranian economy should by no means be turned into a market for foreign-made goods, Nobakht said.

“We have three objectives in accepting foreign delegations: First, to what extent they will meet our investment needs, second, to what extent they will meet our technological needs, and third, to what extent they will be able to create new markets for Iran’s non-oil goods.”

Iran has attracted a total of $3 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) during the first quarter of the current Iranian fiscal year (started March 21, 2015).

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) reported that Iran attracted $2.105 billion in foreign direct investment in 2014.

The report noted that foreign investment in Iran has increased as a result of improvement in Iran 's relations with the world, which has encouraged investors from various countries to take advantage of investment opportunities in Iran.

/By Trend/