Speaking at the first national meeting of provincial economic managers, Dr Seyed Ali Madanizadeh outlined plans to boost productivity and investment, including streamlining licences, improving the business climate, converting unproductive properties into productive assets, and facilitating production financing.

He added: “The digital economy and technologies such as artificial intelligence [AI] present an opportunity to return to a development path. The ministry must lead this effort to avoid missing a historic opportunity.”

Revival of Free Zones

The minister criticised free trade zones (FTZs) for straying from their core objectives and called for realigning them as engines of growth. Provincial economic managers were instructed to remove barriers and leverage FTZs for development.

Attracting Foreign Investment

Emphasising the importance of foreign investment—particularly in joint projects with China—the minister tasked provincial officials with identifying regional opportunities and drafting concrete proposals.

“Foreign investment is a key driver of economic growth,” he said. “We must maximise existing capacities, especially in international partnerships.”