KHATAMI SUPPORTS GOVT''S ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE

KHATAMI SUPPORTS GOVT'S ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE TEHRAN, OCT 4 (KUNA) -- PRESIDENT MOHAMMAD KHATAMI OF IRAN SAID WEDNESDAY HIS GOVERNMENT HAS MADE PROGRESS ON THE ECONOMIC FRONT AND STOPPED BORROWING.
"IRAN IS NOW IN A POSITION THAT INSTEAD OF BORROWING FROM BANKS HAS SUCCEEDED IN REPAYING PARTS OF ITS DEBTS. CONDITIONS ARE GOOD EVEN IN THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR DESPITE THE DROUGHT," HE TOLD REPORTERS AFTER A TOUR OF THE TEHRAN INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR, IRNA REPORTED.
THE REFORM-MINDED LEADER WHO HAS BEEN PUSHING HARD FOR BOTH POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC OPENNESS AND ACCOUNTABILITY, UNDERSCORED HIS GOVERNMENT'S COMMITMENT TO PROMOTE THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND LESSEN STATE CONTROL OVER THE STAGNANT ECONOMY.
HE HOPED THE DORMANT PRIVATE ENTERPRISE WILL BE REACTIVATED AS HIS GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO DOWNSIZE AND "REDUCE ITS ROLE AND MONOPOLY." ECONOMIC PUNDITS AND REFORMERS CLOSE TO THE KHATAMI ADMINISTRATION HAVE WARNED THAT ECONOMIC TROUBLES COULD TURN INTO MAJOR CRISES IF THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT TAKE URGENT AND EFFECTIVE ACTION TO CREATE JOBS AND ATTRACT PRIVATE INVESTORS AT HOME AND FROM OVERSEAS.
IN A CLEAR MESSAGE THAT ATTRACTING FOREIGN INVESTMENTS AND PARTICIPATION IN THE IRANIAN ECONOMY IS A PRIORITY, KHATAMI FIRST VISITED FOREIGN PAVILIONS AT THE AUTUMN EXPOSITION AND LATER TOURED LOCAL COMPANIES AND STANDS.
KHATAMI SAID IRAN HAS A POSITIVE TRADE BALANCE AND THE FOCUS NOW IS ON INVESTMENTS AND ENCOURAGING PRODUCERS TO EXPORT. "WE MUST CURB OUR DEPENDENCE ON OIL REVENUES AND FILL THE GAP WITH EXPORT OF NON-OIL GOODS AND SERVICES." KHATAMI WHO ALSO IS CHAIRMAN OF THE HIGH ECONOMIC COUNCIL, SAID PROSPERITY OF EACH COUNTRY DEPENDS ON THE EFFORTS OF ALL ITS CITIZENS.
"TO ATTAIN PROSPERITY, NOT ONLY THE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT, BUT ALL INCLUDING THE SUPREME LEADER (AYATOLLAH ALI KHAMENEI) AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS MUST COMPLEMENT EACH OTHER THROUGH COORDINATION AND COOPERATION." THE 26TH TEHRAN INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR OPENED ON OCT. 1 WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF 1,200 FOREIGN COMPANIES INCLUDING FIVE FROM THE UNITED STATES.
SEVENTY-TWO COUNTRIES ARE DISPLAYING THEIR GOODS AND TECHNOLOGY THIS YEAR UNDER THE THEME "COMPETITION AND TECHNOLOGY".
MORE THAN 3O ASIAN COUNTRIES, 10 AFRICAN, 25 FROM EUROPE, FIVE FROM THE AMERICAS AND ONE OCEANIC STATE ARE PRESENT AT THE WEEK-LONG EVENT.
KUWAIT HAS SENT 19 COMPANIES. (END) AS.MAB KUNA 041428 Oct 00NNNN