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Ministerial pick : Iran’s progress hinges on development of transportation
Parliamentary panels endorse nominated economic ministers
“The all-round growth and development of the country is dependent on the development of the transportation industry,” Farzaneh Sadeq-Malvajerd said in her address to Parliament.
She went on to say that the necessity of leading, policy-making, and integrated management of the transportation sector is to “enhance coordination with other institutions, and this interaction is of paramount importance.”
In an open session on Monday, Speaker of the Civil Commission Jalal Iri announced his commission’s approval on plans by the roads and urban development minister designate.
Development of logistics parks, multimodal transportation and dry ports, implementation national economic projects, making the country as the hub of air transportation, development of techno-engineering services exports were among the priorities of Sadeq-Malvajerd, the MP noted.
In support of the qualifications of the proposed minister of roads and urban development, Farshad Ebrahimpour stated that Sadeq-Malvajerd has served as the secretary of the Supreme Council of Architecture and Urban Planning for three years.
“She is not only an executive director but also a strategist who knows well how sustainable and balanced urban development should take place in synergy with the environment,” the lawmaker added.
In opposition to the roads and urban development nominee, Hossein Raeisi said according to the statistics, the main problem of housing sector is rooted in the wrong policies of land management by Sadeq-Malvajerd.
“As a person who has spent more than 15 years in issues related to the housing and urban development, I announce my serious concern about policies that she has submitted,” the parliamentarian noted.
Gholamreza Nouri-Qezeljeh, who is Pezeshkian’s pick for the Agriculture Ministry, was also discussed by the MPs on Monday.
Mohammad Sabzi, a member of Agriculture Commission said the lawmakers consider Nouri-Qezeljeh to have experience and education related to agriculture field, who supports anti-corruption, and enjoys economic health, while believing in the principles of the Islamic Revolution.
Also, compliance with the 7th Development Plan in the field of agriculture, focusing the plans of the proposed minister on food security, paying attention to rural and nomadic development, reforming the organizational structure of the Ministry of Agriculture, and presenting the plans on macro policies were among the other points that were mentioned by the supporters of Nouri-Qezeljeh.
In opposition to the agriculture nominee, Rahmatollah Norouzi said inadequate investment, climate changes, supply chain failure, and lack of appropriate technology are other challenges that were not covered by the plans of the nominee.
“Land integration was not included in the plans proposed by the minister of agriculture, while it is a necessary measure,” the MP noted.
The Industries and Mines Commission of the Parliament agreed with the qualifications and programs proposed by Mohammad Atabak, who was introduced by the Iranian president to Parliament as minister of industry, mines and trade.
Zahra Saeidi-Mobarakeh, the speaker of the commission said that issues including industrial and mining fields, the necessity of economic diplomacy with the aim of entering the global value chain, focusing on supplying the energy needed by the production sector were mentioned well by the proposed minister, all of which are in accordance with the law of the 7th Development Plan.
In opposition to the industry, mine and trade ministry nominee, Rouhollah Izadkhah said, “Atabek is not an expert in the field of industrial policies. He has no experience of working in the Ministry of Industry for a single day. He has no experience in the field of trade, which is one of the serious challenges of our industry and mining.”
On the third day, the plans submitted by proposed nominees for the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade were approved by related committees of Parliament.
The Iranian Parliament’s specialized committees started deliberations on Pezeshkian’s cabinet lineup as of August 11 afternoon in two work shifts during four days.
The proposed ministers are being discussed in the Parliament’s open sessions since Saturday.
Pezeshkian was elected as the new Iranian president in a runoff election on July 5 after late president Ebrahim Raisi lost his life in a tragic helicopter crash in May.