Iran's Economy Grows 6.7 Percent

TEHRA, May 17 (Press TV)  The Economic Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Iran says Iran's economic growth rate in the last Iranian year was 6.7%.
This growth rate was 0.5 percent higher than the previous year's growth rate of 6.2 percent, Ramin Pashaei Fam said on Saturday in a gathering of CBI census takers.
Census takers should pay special attention to unemployment, inflation and growth rates to help the country's policy makers in their decision making, Pashei Fam said.
Correct and precise data made available at reasonable speed can be helpful for decision makers and guide them in their efforts to acheive the country's economic goals, he added.
The main decision to be made is how to put the resources available to the country to the best possible use, he said.
"There is not any liquidity problem in the economy, but liquidity needs to be controlled to avoid using it in nonproductive activities," he said in another part of his speech.
Channeling liquidity in the right direction and exercising the right control over it can help curb inflation, he noted.


IranKhodro to Open Permanent Exhibition in UAE

DUBAI, May 17 (IRNA)  Iranian car maker company "IranKhodro" is to open its permanent exhibition in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, on May 20, 2008.
The company's sales representative in the UAE, Ali Reza Aminifar told IRNA Friday the aim of the measure is presence, introduction and supply of Iranian made car in the UAE market, which is a very competitive market.
He added Iranian made car "Samand" has been welcomed by many residents of the UAE from different nationalities and the company has opened service offices in the emirates of AbuDhabi, Dubai and Sharjah so far.


Parliament to Impeach Commerce Minister

TEHRAN, May 17 (IRNA)  Iranian Commerce Minister Masoud MirKazemi will be impeached on May 21.
A member of Majlis presiding board said on Saturday that the impeachment of MirKazemi was removed from the Majlis agenda on last Wednesday (May 14).
Moussa Qorbani stated that the impeachment was postponed due to the withdrawal of six MPs from the case, but the second motion to impeach the minister was submitted to the Majlis in response to the demand of some MPs.
As per the Majlis bylaw, if the number of MPs calling for impeachment of a minister does not reach the quorum, the case will be removed from the Majlis agenda.
MirKazemi is due to attend the Majlis session to answer questions raised by deputies on the performance of his ministry.
The motion to impeach MirKazemi was launched on May 6.
Criticism mounted about administration of the Commerce Ministry over dramatic rise in prices of rice and other consumer goods.
MirKazemi said that he has made planning to deal with shortage of rice and that the Commerce Ministry will distribute large amount of rice and other commodities to bring down the prices in a matter of weeks.
He said that the rice crisis was the outcome of limits imposed by producing countries on export of this commodity.


Iran to Hold 15 Exhibitions in Iraq

TEHRAN, May 17, (IRNA )  The Islamic Republic of Iran will hold 15 specialized exhibitions in Iraq in the current Iranian calendar year which started on March 20, the deputy head of Iran's Trade Promotion Organization for marketing and trade affairs said on Saturday.
Addressing a meeting on Export, Investment and Marketing Opportunities in Islamic States, Mohammad Ali Zeighami observed that the specialized exhibitions will be held in the cites of Suleymaniye, Erbil, AlAmarah , Karbala, Baghdad and etc...
According to the official, the exhibitions will showcase auto parts in Erbil, Iranianmade commodities in Karbala, agriculture and foodstuff in Erbil, energy and industry in Baghdad, and consumer goods in Suleymaniye.


140,000 Visit Mashhad Int'l Flora, Plant Exhibit

MASHHAD, May 17, (IRNA )  Some 140,000 people visited the 7th International Flora, Plants and Horticulture Tools Exhibition in Mashhad.
Announcing this on Saturday, managing director of Mashhad International Exhibition said that this figure showed a 30 percent increase compared to figure for last year's exhibition.
Ahmad Reza Salami noted that the visitors' satisfaction encourage more interaction between visitors and organizers of the exhibition.
Referring to the previous year's freezing winter weather and water crisis, he noted the prospect of the exhibition was promising.
Mashhad hosted the sevenday event as of May 10.


Iran to Start Gas Export to Switzerland in 2009

TEHRAN, May 17 (FNA)  A senior Iranian gas company official said that Tehran will make investments in Europe's gas network.
"The investment in exporting gas to Switzerland is worth 40bn Euros," Managing Director of the National Iranian Gas Export Company, Nasrollah Seyfi added.
He said that Iran and Switzerland have been holding negotiations on the construction of the pipeline for Switzerland for exporting Iran's gas, adding, "If this goes ahead, it will be a new achievement in investing in Europe's gas networks."
"Based on the gas export agreement between Iran and 'EGL' Switzerland, 5.5bln cubic meters of gas will be sent to Switzerland through the Turkish pipeline and via Greece, Albany, and south Italy," Seyfi said.
According to Seyfi, the project will start in 1388 (2009) with the export of one million cubic meters of gas to Switzerland, which will eventually reach the volume of 15m cubic meters in 1395 (2016).
"Between now and 2009, Iran will be making preparations to increase its production of gas and the Swiss side is duty bound to construct a pipeline called 'Trans Adriatic Pipeline, TAP' from southern Greece through Albany to south Italy," Seyfi concluded.
 

Talks With UAE Firm, Positive

TEHRAN, May 17 (FNA)  Iran said its latest talks with the United Arab Emirates' Crescent Petroleum over a longrunning price dispute were "very positive".
Iran and privatelyowned Crescent, based in Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates, have been locked in negotiations about the price of gas exports from the Iranian offshore Salman field to the UAE since 2006.
Last month, Tehran threatened the UAE firm of domestically using the gas it planned to sell Crescent if the price dispute was not resolved.
"The results achieved are very positive and in line with providing Iran's national interests," MNA quoted Nasrollah Seyfi, managing director of the National Iranian Gas Export Company, as saying when asked about Tehran's latest talks with Crescent. He did not say when the two sides met.
The UAE needs gas from the $1 billion project to meet rising domestic demand from industry and power plants, but the deal became controversial in Iran after some politicians said the export price should be higher. Crescent has previously said the gas supply agreement signed with Iran was internationally binding.
Seyfi reiterated Tehran's previous stance that it would use the gas for its own domestic consumption if a deal was not reached. Crescent in February said it had made progress on talks to resolve the dispute about pricing and volume for gas imports from Iran but had yet to reach a final agreement.
Tehran has no pipeline from the offshore Salman field back to Iran and therefore limited options for domestic use. Crescent had expected first deliveries of the gas in mid2006. The initial agreement was for the supply of 600 million cubic feet per day. Crescent's affiliate Dana Gas will process and transport the gas to utilities and industrial users in the UAE