Gov’t approves Economy Ministry overhaul for optimized economic model
The Supreme Administrative Council on Wednesday approved the general framework for a major structural reform of Iran’s Ministry of Economic Affairs and Finance, a move officials say could transform the country’s economic governance.Chaired by First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref, the council endorsed the mission statement and core requirements for the ministry’s macro-level restructuring under Article 105 of the Seventh Five-Year Development Plan (2024–2028). The reform aims to convert the ministry from a traditional, sprawling bureaucracy into an agile, intelligent, and low-cost institution, IRNA reported. Aref, summarizing the session, highlighted the government’s strategy to streamline and enhance the efficiency of the country’s administrative system. “Restructuring the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Finance — as one of the government’s key ministries — can serve as a model for other executive agencies,” he said. Under Article 105 of the Seventh Development Plan, all executive bodies are required to redesign their organizational structures to improve productivity, implement smart governance, and rationalize the size of government. This redesign must result in the annual reduction of at least 5% of each agency’s organizational units by the end of the plan’s third year.During the meeting, the draft restructuring document for the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Finance was discussed and received preliminary approval. Final recommendations from council members and detailed provisions of the document will undergo further review by the ministry and the Secretariat of the Supreme Administrative Council.
