The economic deputy of Management and Planning Org. (MPO) said that the actual incomes of the state does not respond the economical needs of the country . In order to pursue the development we are in need of foreign loans . Hamidreza Baradaran Shorakae added that various foundations and establishments share of taxes amount to Rls. 500,000 m per annum of which some 80% belongs to Mostazafin (Deprived) Foundation share which is not paid to the state He said according to next year budget some 60% of the economy is exempt from taxation .This figure includes Agriculture sector so it only remains Rls. 70,000,000 m as income tax. In this budget some $2000m has been allocated to foreign loans which has to be spent in infrastructural projects such as oil fields development, water resources enhancing , renovation in industry and making new roads .Such expenditure definition is clearly confined . Besides there are very clear guidelines where to spend inflows obtained out of national participation bonds broadly and repeatedly published by various state agencies .On the position of Currency saving account Shorakae revealed that with the continuous withdrawals effected by the Government there is almost no money remained in this account to be used for more state borrowings .On the issue of the state concerns the official remarked that in the budget of the current Iranian year it was envisaged to gain Rls.15000,000 m out of sale of state companies , namely, 9000,000 m to be paid to Social Security Org. and Civil Servants Pension Fund and the rest to be disposed to private sector . Out of this amount only Rls.1,500,000 m has been so far materialized. The Economic deputy of MPO made the point on the Government debts to the Banks , putting the figure respectively to CBI at Rls.64,636,000 m and to other Banks at Rls. 7,553,000 m . Shorakae added that according to third development plan , the Government is entitled to utilize $11,580 m from oil income . But the annual demand to foreign currency has been put at $ 15,300 m .As for the expected rate of growth during the next budget year he has reiterated MPO predictions of between 5.5 to 6.5 percent . He also remarked that the pace of growth of the current expenditure part of the budget has been slowed down.
The surplus of Iran Current Account has been reduced to $1138 million at the end of first semester of current Iranian calendar year , some 73% compared to the same figures last year .According to Central Bank of Iran report this figure amounted to $4215 million last year .The surplus of Iran Trade Account substantially all the same during the same period some 65%. Exports value during Farvardin to Shahrivar has marginally diminished with only 0.75% reduction to $12222 m of which $9795 consisted of Crude Oil and Natural Gas exports . Imports showing 20% increase over the same period of last year amounted to $10744 m. while the service sector chronincal deficit increased some 90% from $394m to $695m . Currency surplus transfer registered a 15% hike from $307 m to $355 m . CBI ( Central Bank of Iran) statistics reveals that International deposits of the country (which is an aggregate of alteration of currency deposit account and international CBI deposits) has nevertheless increased to $3600 m and the net surplus of Iran capital account reached $1827m consisting of $2211m long term surplus account and $384 m short term liabilities . Total foreign liabilities and debts comprising of definitive and non-definitive liabilities as at 31st Shahrivar this year corresponding to 21st September 2002 amounted to $23100 m covering all short , medium and long term liabilities . Definitive external liabilities at the end of first semester showed a 14% increase and reached $8438 m.
Deputy General Manager of TTO announced that by adding to the actual capacity of transit facilities , the annual hard currency revenue earned from transit operations will be increased from present $ 500 m to $ 2000 m . Presently some 5,000,000 tons of cross country cargo is being moved but by building new transit roads , adding to service complexes on the roads and terminals at the gateways we could reach this target within next three to four years . Soleimani added the prime plan pursued by TTO is the rejuvenation of transit truck fleet so as to reduce the average age of the trucks from present 17 years for inter-city trucks . TTO is enforcing its plans by granting soft loans up to 70% of vehicle value with advantageous rates of 4% only . As for the new truck fleet so far there were some 3800 applicants of which some 1800 prime movers and 800 semi trailers have been manufactured in the local industry and distributed . Therefore our estimate is that about 50% of the transit fleet have been rejuvenated so far. On the subject of alarming figures of road incidents the board member of TTO clarified that during last year some 20,000 human lives were perished on the road accidents of which some 70% is pertaining to inter-city casualties and the rest within the cities . According to findings the heavy duty vehicles are to be blamed for only 20 to 25% of the accidents and the rest is weighing on passenger or non public vehicles shoulders. Soleimani stressed that to correct the situation much has to be done in driving culture building among the drivers at large however TTO has formed a national safety committee to uphold the traffic management and to try to reduce the accidents rating on the short run and necessary equipments to this end are to be ordered soon.
Managing Director of newly private bank , Karafarin , told reporters that a new affiliated leasing Co. is to be formed soon in the field of leasing of heavy road , construction and transport machinery , medical equipments in a joint investment scheme of IFC (belonging to World Bank) a French Bank and Karafarin Bank with an initial capital of $ 10 m of which $ 2 m by IFC 4 by the French partner and the rest $ 4 m by Iranian Bank . Aghili added that said agreement is to be initially endorsed by CBI. It is of prime interest that IFC is back to Iran's financial markets after 27 years of absence.