Except Iran, how many countries have the opportunity to send billions of dollars to their coffers besides their daily income from oil? Perhaps, none. How many countries have the prospect of becoming a global energy hub, which opportunity, apart from the huge financial benefit, will greatly improve the national security of any country? Almost no country, but Iran.
These were stated by Hossein Haqgou, an economist, in an article for the Persian daily Shargh. A translation of the text follows:
How many countries have rich mineral resources, vast territory and super-strategic position with access to high seas? Almost no country, but Iran. How many countries have a civilizational background, cultural and climatic diversity, national integrity and suitable population (mostly young and talented) of Iran? Perhaps no country.
Sadly, despite these great advantages, the economy and people’s livelihood are far from favorable; sanctions and decades-long inefficiency and mismanagements of governments have smothered the growth and development of this country.
Sanctions might not be synonymous with the undoing of the economy, but they delay the completion of large economic and industrial projects. Misguided policies, the most important of which is the government’s failure to conclude and revive the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the squandering of resources which is the byproduct of circumventing sanctions and supplanting global presence with regional collaboration have stalled the country’s development.
Despite all the unique advantages, Iran’s economy and livelihood of people are far from favorable; sanctions and decades-long inefficiency and mismanagements of governments have smothered the growth and development of this country
A headline in government’s newspaper [Persian daily Iran] reads, “Iran Registered $90 Billion in Foreign Trade, Thanks to Circumventing Sanctions”. It cited Trade Promotion Organization of Iran as saying that, “Ninety percent of last year’s $100 billion foreign trade were gained through non-banking channels.”
This is not something to be proud of, rather it is indicative of the fact that a huge amount of resources, that could otherwise be spent on the development of the country, are being wasted just like gas, electricity and water as a result of old infrastructure.
Those who think we can achieve economic growth and development through interaction with the regional countries are badly mistaken.
According to the Research Center of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries Mines and Agriculture, regional countries account for as little as 6% of the global economy, 94% of the world’s economy are outside this region.
The 6% regional economy is one of the links of the global production and trade chain; none of the regional countries is among the links of this global chain. None of the regional economies, including Turkey, Oman, the UAE and Pakistan, is among Iran’s strategic partner; Iran is not among their top 10 or even top 15 partners, either.
Regional economic cooperation can be valuable for Iran when it is designed and implemented in the framework of a larger global trade plan.
Emphasizing that “we do not tie the economy and people’s livelihood to JCPOA” and speaking of “economic regionalism” (as the main strategy in the Seventh Development Plan), and engaging in the distribution of coupons and so-called “bread card”, subsistence economy and neglecting the urgency of economic reforms will compound various imbalances in government’s budget, banking system, social security funds and water and environmental resources; it creates a bleak future for the development and progress of the country; a country and people that are unlike any other in the world.
