President Hassan Rouhani vowed that his government will throw full support behind knowledge-based businesses to help tackle youth unemployment and boost self-sufficiency.
"The government will lend all-out support to knowledge-based firms," Rouhani said in a speech at a conference of knowledge-based companies active in the health sector in Tehran on Wednesday.
"Development of knowledge-based businesses could help create employment for university graduates and reverse the brain drain."
Such businesses contribute greatly to the country's development as they ensure that the true potential of the large middle class will be fully exploited, the president said.
"Today we need strong resolve to achieve independence in generation of knowledge and self-sufficiency in many areas and to develop a proper relationship with the world," IRNA quoted him as saying.
The president said among the gains the negotiators achieved by the nuclear deal reached with the P5+1 (the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany) was compelling the other side to agree that Iran will press on with its nuclear research and development and Arak and Fordo facilities will remain in operation.
***Forward Planning
He said now is the time to set sights on "the post-sanctions era" and start forward planning.
The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, as the nuclear pact is formally known, will temporarily limit Tehran's nuclear program in return for the lifting of sanctions, which is expected to take place in early 2016 when the JCPOA goes into force.
With sanctions relief in sight, which would open up an untapped market offering vast investment opportunities, businesses from around the world have flocked into Iran.
It was stressed in meetings with visiting foreign delegations that if they want to do business in Iran, they would have to bring investment and transfer technology, Rouhani said.
"You are welcome to Iran only if you bring investment and technology, share benefits in the global market (with Iranian partners) and hire local graduates."
