TEHRAN (Mehr News Agency) – Two Iranian firms will issue foreign bonds in the next few months, deputy governor of the Central Bank of Iran announced.

During his trip to London, Mohammad Ja’far Mojarad announced that Iranian petrochemical and oil industries will issue their bonds soon.   Last year Iran issued bonds worth 625 million euros.

Iran’s economic growth last year was 6.5 percent, he said, but given that almost half of the Iranian population is under 25, we need to create new job opportunities, particularly through foreign investment.

Iran has taken serious measures in economic liberalization, he said adding four private banks have received permission and the applications of three other are under consideration so far.

Currently 90 percent of economic activities are carried out through state-owned banks.

Mojarad, in charge of reorganization of state-run banks and their privatization, said that the reorganization will take between two to five years and will provide room for foreign banks to open their branches in Iran.

Currently foreign banks are allowed to carry out activities in the Free-Trade Zones of Iran.