Promotion of domestically manufactured products is not possible without improving their quality and injecting vitality into the entire production chain through greater support for industrial workers and employers, President Hassan Rouhani said on Sunday.
"If we want people to consume Iranian products and want them to be a source of pride for all of us, the first prerequisite is a spirit of vitality and hope among workers and in the workplace," the president told a ceremony held in Tehran to commemorate workers ahead of Labor Day, which falls on Tuesday, his official website reported.
In a bid to help make the economy more self-sufficient and insulate it from sanctions and hostile foreign activity, Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei called the new Iranian year, which began on March 21, the year of "Support for Iranian Products".
In his speech, Rouhani said another important factor is the quality of domestic goods as setting and maintaining high standards is the best way to ensure "sustained" support for local products and industries, which play a significant role in easing the economic woes facing the country.
***Seeds of Despair
He argued that hostile powers are seeking to sow the seeds of despair among people, especially the youth, and want to undermine the outstanding achievements of the Islamic Republic in different fields.
"Today, the enemies' major plot against the Iranian nation is to cause dismay and frustration, and it is a thriving market that keeps factories running."
Support for home-made products begins with support for local laborers, employers and entrepreneurs as they can help breathe life and enthusiasm into places of work, he added, pledging that his administration will continue to take effective measures to aid the country's labor force.
"All those involved in manufacturing a product—including workers, employers and marketers—should join hands to produce quality products and make them attractive to purchase through offering them in decent packaging," the president stated.
***Job Creation
Rouhani said members of his Cabinet have implemented various programs through their respective ministries and organizations over the past several years to improve the country's living standards, particularly those of the working class.
"However, we are still far from the ideal situation," he noted, vowing to do more to better their conditions and create more employment opportunities.
He said over 800,000 net jobs were created in the previous Iranian year, which increased the employment number to more than 23,300,000 from around 22,500,000 during the preceding year.
The positive momentum can be attributed to the efforts of both the public and private sectors, the president added.
Rouhani said about 3 million people are currently unemployed, calling for "big steps" to bring down joblessness, including through renovation of the road transport fleet and rebuilding old structures across the country.
