Int’l Integration Key to Tackling Economic Hurdles

Iran is an ancient country at the heart of the Silk Road, linking trade routes between the East and the West. 
With its strategic geographic location, climatic diversity, extensive industrial base, diverse economy, huge energy reserves (ranking second in the world in gas and fourth in oil), valuable mineral reserves (accounting for 7% of the world reserves), relatively suitable transportation and telecom infrastructures, and access to domestic and regional markets, Iran can be one of the best destinations for investment. In other words, Iran is the largest regional economy that has not reached its full potential over its failure to integrate with the international community. 
Feryal Mostofi, a member of Tehran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture, prefaced her write-up for News.tccim.ir with this note. A translation of the text follows:
Human capital is Iran’s most important asset; 70% of the country’s 85 million people are young. They are skilled and educated (with a literacy rate of 89.7% and 20 million Iranians in universities).