Iran urges depoliticized examination of its business situation

Iran calls on the World Bank to refrain from politicized moves in evaluating the country’s business situation.

A government agency has written to the World Bank Group demanding the global financial body to refrain from politicized handling of Iran’s case once it is examined for the Group’s annual Doing Business reports.

Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs Farhad Dejpassand said on Thursday that the government would continue to press the World Bank to consider Iran’s improved status as a business-friendly nation.

The minister said Iran’s Organization for Investment & Economic and Technical Assistance (OIETAI) had sent an official request to the World Bank demanding the global body to stop using politicized approaches in handling Iran’s business climate case.

“Our OIETAI chief has written a letter to the World Bank president in which he has warned that they should refrain from mixing professional and technical issues with political affairs,” he said.

Dejpassand further highlighted the fact that Iran has managed to pass 8 out of 11 standards set by the World Bank to be able to ascend in its global ranking.

The minister said Iran’s private-sector businesses and non-governmental organizations have approved the reforms carried out by the government to improve the economic and business situation in the country.

“This is a very low ranking … unfortunately this ranking is partly influenced by political issues,” said Dejpassand in an interview with IRIB Radio.

Iran and many other countries have been critical of the way the World Bank compiles its annual Doing Business reports as they have negatively affected efforts to boost foreign investment in those countries.

SS