Economic Security Committee Will Settle Country's Economic Complications: Experts
September 2, 1999 - 0:0
TEHRAN -- The economic desk editor of Persian daily Ettelaat Hassan Karrabi described the formation of Economic Security Committee as a positive step towards settlement of the country's economic problems. Speaking to the TEHRAN TIMES, Karrabi said the idea, having been mooted by two senior officials such as President Khatami and Chief of Judiciary Ayatollah Hashemi Shahroudi, can be counted as a positive point opening up a brilliant horizon for settlement of the country's economic complications.
He added that the policies to be made by Economic Security Committee should be drawn up in clear, precise and lasting terms. He further said, "Unfortunately, our economic system has not yet been formed properly, and what currently exists does not agree with any of the present economic frameworks in the world." He referred to the goals of the committee and said one of the major aims is to specify the principles, criteria and framework of the country's economic system, based on which the limits and boundaries charted by the Judiciary should be supported and guaranteed.
He said after its formation and drawing up its programs, the committee should start attracting foreign investment and, simultaneously, provide the necessary international guarantees in accordance with the needs of the day. "To attract foreign investment, we should grant the investors some privileges within the framework of national interests," Karrabi said and added that international guarantees for foreign investors can be provided through links with international insurance, banks and funds.
On attraction of domestic investors, he said one of the major problems in this regard is the ambiguity in the limits of ownership in the country and expressed hope that the problem will be resolved by the committee. Commenting on the relation between economic security and realization of the slogan of political development, Karrabi said the creation of economic security can prepare the ground for materialization of political development in the country.
He said people's participation in economic activities prepares the ground for their participation in political activities and consequently, results in the country's political development. An expert on economic affairs Bahman Arman also told the TEHRAN TIMES that experience indicates that such committees have not functioned effectively in our country. He said to prevent this committee from suffering the fate of the previous ones, its function should be clarified by the experts.
"Economic security cannot be provided simply by enacting the law," he said and added that the government should take more serious measures in this respect. Arman said in addition to creation of the Economic Security Committee, the government should encourage the people to make investments in different economic sections. He said the committee should enact laws to return the confiscated companies to their original owners or to the people by encouraging privatization.
"The tax law and the regulations which block production and, thus, give rise to economic problems should be eliminated," Arman noted, adding that Iran is a country with solid economic infrastructure which can quickly recover its economy and provide the necessary ground for political development. He said that money and energy should be shifted from commercial activities to production and absorption of people's cooperation and participation.
Another economic expert Kazem Najafi Elmi told the TEHRAN TIMES that the Judiciary can play an effective role for both investors and governments by forming the Economic Security Committee and drying up the economic quagmires in light of law. He said the Economic Security Committee should comprise efficient and well-versed experts in economic fields so that they can draw up lasting policies which can provide the ground for investment and export and import facilities in the country.
"Such a committee should place on its agenda clear and stable laws, stability in the rate of foreign exchange, insurance, efficient banks and financial facilities by investment institutes, also encouraging legitimate competition and setting up organizations to support domestic production.
He added that the policies to be made by Economic Security Committee should be drawn up in clear, precise and lasting terms. He further said, "Unfortunately, our economic system has not yet been formed properly, and what currently exists does not agree with any of the present economic frameworks in the world." He referred to the goals of the committee and said one of the major aims is to specify the principles, criteria and framework of the country's economic system, based on which the limits and boundaries charted by the Judiciary should be supported and guaranteed.
He said after its formation and drawing up its programs, the committee should start attracting foreign investment and, simultaneously, provide the necessary international guarantees in accordance with the needs of the day. "To attract foreign investment, we should grant the investors some privileges within the framework of national interests," Karrabi said and added that international guarantees for foreign investors can be provided through links with international insurance, banks and funds.
On attraction of domestic investors, he said one of the major problems in this regard is the ambiguity in the limits of ownership in the country and expressed hope that the problem will be resolved by the committee. Commenting on the relation between economic security and realization of the slogan of political development, Karrabi said the creation of economic security can prepare the ground for materialization of political development in the country.
He said people's participation in economic activities prepares the ground for their participation in political activities and consequently, results in the country's political development. An expert on economic affairs Bahman Arman also told the TEHRAN TIMES that experience indicates that such committees have not functioned effectively in our country. He said to prevent this committee from suffering the fate of the previous ones, its function should be clarified by the experts.
"Economic security cannot be provided simply by enacting the law," he said and added that the government should take more serious measures in this respect. Arman said in addition to creation of the Economic Security Committee, the government should encourage the people to make investments in different economic sections. He said the committee should enact laws to return the confiscated companies to their original owners or to the people by encouraging privatization.
"The tax law and the regulations which block production and, thus, give rise to economic problems should be eliminated," Arman noted, adding that Iran is a country with solid economic infrastructure which can quickly recover its economy and provide the necessary ground for political development. He said that money and energy should be shifted from commercial activities to production and absorption of people's cooperation and participation.
Another economic expert Kazem Najafi Elmi told the TEHRAN TIMES that the Judiciary can play an effective role for both investors and governments by forming the Economic Security Committee and drying up the economic quagmires in light of law. He said the Economic Security Committee should comprise efficient and well-versed experts in economic fields so that they can draw up lasting policies which can provide the ground for investment and export and import facilities in the country.
"Such a committee should place on its agenda clear and stable laws, stability in the rate of foreign exchange, insurance, efficient banks and financial facilities by investment institutes, also encouraging legitimate competition and setting up organizations to support domestic production.