The establishment of e-banks will not only reduce manpower costs but also will lead to the development of IranÕs banking system.

Central Bank of Iran has expressed readiness to issue permits to establish two e-banks in the year to March 2009, disclosed CBI deputy governor for modern technologies.
Mohammad-Hossein Mehrani told IRNA that Iranian experts are currently involved in preparing necessary grounds for the proposed banks. Once operational, e-banks will offer banking services both within the country and abroad, he said.
e-banks would have no branches and their activities will be conducted from headquarters, he added.
The establishment of e-banks, he said, would not only reduce manpower costs but also lead to the development of Iran’s banking system.
e-banks capitalize on the latest IT technology with emphasis on settlement services. Electronic banking means 24-hour access to cash through automated teller machines (ATMs) or direct deposit of paychecks into current or savings accounts.
Use of electronic techniques in the banking system is one of the sections of policy making-supervising package of CBI in the year to March 2009, Persian daily ’Sobh-e Eqtesad’ quoted the CBI deputy as saying.
Operations of the two proposed banks would be in electronic form, he elaborated. “Since these banks would not have any physical branches and all operations will be conducted electronically; no human force will be involved and everybody could have equal access.“
Underlining that permits for e-banks could also be issued for the private sector, he said, “There are a number of applications for setting up such banks and we are creating the framework.“
He further disclosed that the infrastructure of banking operation would undergo change. In addition, CBI has received offers to use cell phone system in this project, the official pointed out.
CBI has emphasized on launching the center for controlling and supervising transactions by promoting the use of credit cards, facilities for electronic payments and e-money.
Mehrani referred to digital signature as one of the other programs envisaged under the CBI supervising-policymaking package. Electronic signature would facilitate trade, enabling the verification of the client’s identity.
CBI will supervise the implementation of e-banking guidelines, he said, explaining that the articles of association for e-banking have been ratified and would become binding in the year to March 2009.
Credit cards are to be issued for customers as an identity and all applicants could have a credit card in the initial stage, Mehrani pointed out.
To promote the culture of e-banking, customers would have to pay banking charges for physical referral to banks, he said. This is while, no charges would be imposed in the e-banking system, he added.
The banker put the number of utility bills issued during a two-month period as follows: about 50 million for fixed phones and cell phones, 22 million for electricity, 18 million for water, 10 million for gas and seven million for wastewater. These bills should be paid electronically, he underlined, noting that it would have a direct impact on the use of banknotes, travelers’ checks and paychecks.
The government has announced that the number of ATM and Point-of-Sale (POS) cards will reach 12 million by the end of the Fourth Five-Year Economic Development Plan (2005-2010).
Thousands of ATMs are currently linked to domestic e-banking network, known as Shetab.
Fast system cooperation with other countries would be expanded, Mehrani concluded. CBI plans to expand these systems to cover African and the Far East Asian.

Export of goods from Gilan province increased by 26 percent during the first month of the Iranian year (March 20-April 19).
According to IRNA, a supervisor at the provincial customs office noted that some 44,699 tons of commodities, worth of $24.1 million, were exported from the province during the period.
Gholamhossein Nouhi said that the main export items were fresh fruits, nuts, agricultural products, industrial products, construction materials and minerals.
He listed Russia, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, UAE, Armenia, Turkey and Iraq as the main export markets. “Some 206,807 tons of goods, worth $147.6 million, were imported via provincial customs office during the same period,“ he said.
Meanwhile, over 1.1 million tons of commodities were transported by the Caspian Sea Shipping Company during the Iranian year to March 19. Announcing this, the company’s managing director noted that the number of ships owned by the company rose to 10 with the acquisition of new vessels last year.
Jamshid Khalili cited the financial constraints as the main problem hindering the development of shipping activities in the Caspian Sea.

Bank of Industries and Mines will make financial facilities available for eight giant cement projects as a move to check inflation, create new jobs and increase production, said the bank’s managing director.
Once the projects are inaugurated, cement production capacity would increase by 10 million tons, Mehdi Razavi told IRIBNews.
Highlighting the long-lasting impacts of credit for infrastructural projects, he said that Bank of Industries of Mines is responsible for supplying the funds.
Bank of Industries and Mines has only 40 branches nationwide, the banker said, pointing out that each province has a branch.
With 0.2 percent of the staff of banking system and 0.04 percent of the entire bank’s branches across the country, this bank pays about 10 percent of all the banking facilities extended to customers, Razavi underlined.
As per Article 44 of the Constitution, this bank would remain under state control, he concluded.

The 16th Conference of Marine Organizations was held in Chahbahar Free Trade Zone on Wednesday. Photo by Ali Hassanpour

The traditional structure of Iranian ports should be reformed to comply with global standards, observed managing director of Port and Shipping Organization (PSO), Ali Taheri.
Speaking at the 16th Conference of Marine Organizations in Chahbahar Free Trade Zone, he described this as one of the main objectives of the PSO.
The official added that conducting free trade, removing barriers and easing rules and regulations are of high importance. Iranian ports, he said, should keep pace with global economic developments.
“We are going to prepare necessary infrastructures for improving the role of our ports in global trade,“ he said.
“Once a bill on preventing oil pollution in the high seas, which was submitted by the government to the Parliament, goes into effect, we can prosecute those who violate the law,“ he noted.
Deputy chairman of National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) for technical affairs, Jamal Miahi told the same gathering that NITC has 40 oil tankers with a capacity of 7.5 million tons, noting that the company is the fourth largest in the world.
“14 oil tankers will be added to NITC fleet to increase its capacity to 11 million tons in the year to March 2010.“
He noted that NITC capacity will reach 14 million tons in 2011, adding the company would rank first in terms of possessing giant towboats.
Managing director of Bonyad Shipping Company, Ali Safar Ali for his part, said that development of the shipping fleet needs huge funds, adding the government should convince banks to extend loans to marine organizations. “Presently we use the facilities of foreign banks to implement projects,“ he said.
Addressing the same conference, managing director of Valfajr Shipping Company said that vessels owned by his company have seating capacities for 2,000 passengers, adding the figure will increase by 20 percent until next March.
Director of National Oceanology Center recalled that April 29 has been designated as National Persian Gulf Day, adding preliminary steps have been taken to print a publication named Persian Gulf.
Director of PSO’s Department for Human Resources Saeed Jafari said that 18 vessels will be added to the country’s commercial shipping fleet.
“Presently foreigners make up 20 percent of the crew of Iranian vessels and this is not a positive point for us.
“Improving the scientific and professional level of marine crew will help us send specialized workers abroad,“ he said.
PSO has earmarked over 1,600 billion rials to install marine and telecommunication equipment in the ports. According to PSO figures, 20 trillion rials have been allocated for implementing port projects.

Management Planning Department of National Iranian Drilling Company (NIDC) has announced that drilling operations for three oil wells in the southern part of the country ended 30 days ahead of schedule.
According to PIN, the company said in a statement that drilling operations of Aghajari development well took only 186 days, Bibi-Hakimeh well 145 days and Jofeir-3 well 194 days.
In drilling and related services, NIDC, a subsidiary of National Iranian Oil Company, enjoys state-of-the-art equipment and skilled manpower and expertise.
Since its inception, NIDC has been responsible for exploration, development and delineation drilling of all oil and gas wells.
At present NIDC owns and operates 54 offshore and onshore oil and gas drilling rigs with 10,000 qualified and experienced personnel.

The target for agricultural production in the current Iranian year to March 2009 may not materialize, warned deputy agricultural jihad minister for industries and infrastructural affairs, Farid Ejlali.
He told MNA, “Because of the drought this year, the goal of 107 million tons of agricultural produce may not be achieved.“
The official added that the shortfall may also affect plans to attain self-sufficiency in agro products.
Currently 86 billion cubic meters of water needed for farming is being supplied from wells, springs, surface waters, aqueducts and dams, he pointed out.
“Given that we are facing drought conditions this year in Iran, we have concentrated our efforts and policies on conserving water,“ Ejlali explained.
“To date, water was mostly regarded as a means to generate electricity, but we should change this mindset,“ he said.

Oil revenues should be spent on investment and increasing production, said minister of labor and social affairs on the eve of International Labor Day (May 1).
Speaking at a gathering of exemplary workers in Tehran on the occasion of Labor Week, Mohammad Jahromi explained that higher production would have a positive impact on public welfare and eradication of poverty, IRNA wrote.
He termed invention, innovation and job creation as the most important features of manpower that could help ensure public welfare.
More and more workers have been named by their units as exemplary in recent years, minister said, adding that this indicates significant growth in the number of skilled workers in industrial units.
He added that about 69 percent of these workers are creative persons. Jahromi referred to promoting the works, removing the problems of workers and removing the obstacles to production as the main policies of the ministry.

High on the agenda of the Islamic system is the fight against corruption, declared head of State Inspectorate Organization (SIO) on Wednesday.
Hojjatoleslam Mohammad Niazi told IRNA that the failure to fight economic and financial corruption will only undermine the Islamic system. “For the same reason, measures are in place to fight the phenomenon.“
According to him, the SIO has identified 50 areas in the economic structure and has notified relevant organizations to take necessary measures to deal with shortcomings and prevent corruption.
He said that about eight years ago, the leader issued an eight-point decree urging officialdom and the people to launch an all-out campaign to confront and uproot corruption. “Under Article 5 of the decree, supervision is an important factor for the three branches of the government in the fight against corruption.“