Iran VP stresses importance of transit growth, productivity reforms
Iran’s Vice President Mohammadreza Aref emphasized the critical importance of transit development and the activation of key trade corridors across the country and the West Asia region, calling for swift action to remove obstacles hindering transportation growth.
Speaking at the 9th meeting of the Supreme Strategic Council for the Seventh Development Plan on Monday, he highlighted the need for Iran to play a more active role in regional and international agreements, which present significant opportunities for transit expansion.
The meeting, chaired by the VP and attended by members of the council, focused on the three key topics of national productivity systems, trade corridors, and the mining and industrial chain.
Aref noted that while past development plans have emphasized productivity growth, Iran’s administrative system remains inefficient.
He criticized the lack of motivation among employees and the absence of courage and creativity among managers, calling for a serious overhaul of the system.
“We must set aside formalities and address the root causes of inefficiency,” the VP said, adding that, “Our administrative system is not productive, and neither employees nor managers are motivated. We have stripped managers of their courage and creativity, and now we expect productivity to improve. This is the reality we face.”
The vice president also pointed out that Iran’s bureaucratic system stifles the potentials of university graduates, contrasting it with countries where graduates thrive and contribute to growth.
He stressed the need to identify and resolve systemic issues, including restrictive regulations, while emphasizing the importance of adhering to the law to prevent chaos.
During the meeting, a comprehensive report on productivity in Iran’s past development plans and the proposed National Productivity System was presented.
The vice president underscored the importance of improving productivity across government bodies, particularly as the country aims for an 8% growth rate.
He acknowledged that productivity has long been a chronic issue in Iran and expressed hope that the Seventh Development Plan would lead to serious efforts to address it.
The council also reviewed a draft proposal for the National Productivity System, with the vice president calling for further detailed analyses. He urged participants to identify specific obstacles to productivity and take actionable steps to create a more efficient system.
The meeting concluded with discussions on strategies to enhance productivity and address the challenges facing Iran’s administrative and economic systems.
On March 1, the minister of roads and urban development emphasized that completing transit corridors is a top priority for the ministry to optimize transit operations, and neighboring countries are relying on Iran’s efforts in the field despite existing limitations and sanctions.
Speaking at a meeting with provincial governors in Tehran, Farzaneh Sadeq-Malvajerd stated that while the completion of transit corridors should have been achieved sooner, it is still not too late to act.
She highlighted that countries like China continue to view Iran as a more efficient, cost-effective, and shorter route for cargo transit. This has also encouraged Turkey to increase cooperation with Iran.
Sadeq-Malvajerd stressed that developing border terminals is among the ministry’s key priorities. Over the past five months, she noted, significant efforts have been made to enhance relations with neighboring countries through joint commissions, virtual meetings, and invitations for them to visit Iran to discuss border issues, terminals, and regional connectivity.
Sadeq-Malvajerd underscored that despite current challenges, including energy shortages, limitations, and the potential for intensified sanctions, transportation and transit remain vital solutions. She called for the necessary infrastructure to be established within the country.
The minister emphasized that the development of transit routes connecting to borders and railways will drive economic growth and wealth creation. She urged governors to advocate for this vision across the government, parliament, and judiciary.