Privatization of state enterprises, particularly those in the roads and transportation sector, has been high on the agenda of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s government since March.
Airports in Iran are state-run but following the privatization of Ramsar Airport in Mazandaran province, grounds have been created for handing over the management of other airports to the private sector.
As things stand, Arak Airport in Markazi province will also be handed over to the private sector as announced by the head of Public Relations Office of State Airports Company.
According to Yadollah Aqaei-Saem, the company has been in talks with a domestic investor to upgrade Arak Airport to international standards. Currently, Arak Airport is considered among the least busy in the country.
Once the privatization process is completed and airport services are developed, it will become a profit-making enterprise, the official assured.
Aqaei-Saem continued that following Ramsar Airport, Arak is the second airport which is up for privatization, adding that State Airports Company welcomes investments and proposals by the private sector for the development of airports which handle fewer passengers.
Under the deal, all operations at the airport, with the exception of flight safety, security, control and overall management, will be transferred to the private sector. Some 20 airports will be privatized in the future.
In this respect, Masoud Daneshmand, of Iran’s Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Mines told Iran Daily that it is about time the government undertook an all-out campaign to privatize state-owned sectors.
He said that privatization of airports is welcome news and added, “Of course, no one should be allowed to question the real motives behind private investors. Privatization of services sector at the airports such as luggage handling and maintenance will enhance competition and draw more investment. As a result, services will improve.“
State Airports Company is in charge of 60 airports employing well over 2,500 personnel. Of the eight major airline companies, seven have already been privatized.
Speaking to Iran Daily Majlis Economic Commission Rapporteur Mohammad Reza Khabbaz, said the best way to serve the country is to support private enterprises.
He quoted Housing and Urban Development Minister Mohammad Saeedikia as saying that ’the government always lays a red carpet for private investors’ and added, “The private sector should be in charge of all economic activities and the government should only act as a supervisor. Only under such conditions, will we be able to efficiently put into practice the general policies of Article 44 of the Constitution which relates to privatization of state-owned sector.“
Arak Airport Managing Director Hamid Reza Khosrowjerdi also said that during the recent visit by the cabinet to the region two project plans were approved for Arak Airport, both of which were fully implemented.
He added that following the privatization of Ramsar Airport, the officials also approved the plan to privatize Arak Airport in a bid to improve and increase the number of airport services.
In conclusion, he said, “It makes economic sense to privatize all airports as this can also generate more revenues for the government. Indeed, the government should support private investors who are willing to invest in the aviation industry.“

Given the government’s policymaking-supervising role, the Central Bank of Iran has launched an inter-bank market to facilitate major transactions among banks, Fars News Agency reported. The newly-established market officially began its activities with the participation of Saderat, Tejarat, Refah-e Kargaran, Export Promotion Bank of Iran, Sanat va Madan, Post Bank and private banks.
It was decided that once the liquidity is effectively managed, the participation of other banks in the inter-bank market would be possible.
Since the CBI is in charge of monetary policies and is a major decision-making body for macroeconomic affairs, it makes its expert views known transparently without political considerations.

About 70 enterprises have been identified in the industrial and mining sectors which have established links with all bodies involved in production, said Minister of Industries and Mines Ali Akbar Mehrabian.
He noted that the transfer of all economic affairs to the private sector is the salient point for implementing Article 44 of the Constitution, ISNA reported.
Privatization of state-owned companies is part of the process, Mehrabian pointed out, adding that ceding industrial and mining affairs to the private sector is of greater importance. “A close link should be established between the private sector and the government,“ he noted, adding that holding a few meetings is insufficient to achieve this.
Mehrabian stated that his ministry aims to create strong links with the private sector, saying that a number of sessions have been held with various entities in this respect.

Qazvin province ranks second after Gilan in the production of olive in the country with an output of 12,000 tons each year.
The cities Roudbar and Tarom-Sofla are the main regions in the province for olive cultivation. Qazvin olive is favored in international markets because of its quality and nutritional value.
According to a horticulture expert with the provincial Agricultural Jihad Department, given its compounds, olive is considered one of the most valuable fruits, as 100 grams of the fruit contains an average of 224 calories of energy, 60 grams of water, 20 grams fat, 10 grams glucose, one gram protein and three percents salts. Ali Akbari further told IRNA that olive oil has been in use since ancient times for the treatment of diseases such as constipation and dermal disorders. Some 40 percent of the olive produced in Qazvin either are consumed or are canned while the rest are used from extracting oil, he noted.
Increasing the area under olive cultivation has made the investment in processing industries essential.

A US attack on Iran would push the oil market ’absolutely out of control’, said Venezuela’s oil minister, adding that oil producing countries’ hands are tied at a time of record high oil prices.
A US attack on Iran would throw the market absolutely out of control with a price hike hard to predict,“ Oil Minister Rafael Ramirez told Dow Jones Newswires on the sidelines of the Fifth PetroCaribe oil summit.
“The US continues to pressure producing countries. There’s a large war premium“ on prices.
He said that world crude inventories are in equilibrium, with some fluctuations but an overall coverage that he described as sufficient. Members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, the minister said, are trying to avoid a scenario of too much supply.
“If inventories go too high and a collapse in the market price happens like it did in the 1990s, it’s hard to bring it back into equilibrium,“ Ramirez said.
He insisted that more production from OPEC countries would only end up in inventories at this point. “There seems to be a consensus right now that the minimum price for (West Texas Intermediate) crude sits above $100 a barrel and that will continue like that,“ he said.

Banks will be prohibited from selling travelers’ checks (TCs) issued by different banks from August 15, said governor of Central Bank of Iran (CBI).
Tahmasb Mazaheri explained that the sale of CBI travelers’ checks in banks was discussed on May 14. After that, the banks were given a three-month deadline to become ready for this measure, he added, according to IRNA.
From the said date, the top banker said, banks are permitted to sell only CBI travelers’ checks, banknotes or render e-trade services.
CBI will financially assist the banks which have liquidity problems to undertake the initiative, he underlined.
Mazaheri pointed out that two measures have been taken to empower the banks to extend more facilities.
Proper conditions and incentives have also been considered for those who repay their debts, he said.