Rouhani underlines Iran's economic prosperity as government's top priority

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said his government is determined to take positive steps to improve the country's economic conditions in various sectors, and stressed that the current Iranian year (started March 21, 2014) should be the year of economic prosperity. "This year should be the year of economic prosperity in the country," President Rouhani told reporters after his meeting with Iranian Roads and Urban Development Minister Abbas Akhoundi and his team of deputies here in Tehran on Monday. The Iranian president noted that the roads and urban development ministry plays a major role to this end, as it can create jobs and bring about changes by preparing the necessary infrastructures. The Iranian president pointed to the need for the expansion of the country's railway network, and said, "We should work on linking the country's railway network to the neighboring countries." President Rouhani said among the moves that the ministry can make to help advance towards the goal of economic prosperity is construction of double-track railways and electrifying them as such projects will help link Iran's railway network to the neighboring countries. The Iranian president pointed to the status quo of the country's passenger air fleet, and said, "The number of passenger seats on Iranian planes is not sufficient and we should work to strengthen this sector and renovate the air fleet." President Rouhani underlined that his government is looking for constructive interaction with the world, and said, "Today we have many capabilities for partnering in the construction of houses in the neighboring countries and the country's private sector should become active in this field."   Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Khamenei in a message on the occasion of Nowruz on March 21 called the new Iranian year as "The Year of Economy and Culture with National Determination and Jihadi Management". Last month, President Rouhani underlined that his government plans to increase its support for the agricultural sector in a bid to pave the ground for the country's economic boom and independence. "God willingly, we will witness growth in the agricultural sector with government's aid and assistance to this sector," President Rouhani told reporters after his meeting with Agricultural Jihad Minister Mahmoud Hojjati and his team of deputies. Rouhani vowed that the country would witness a major progress in agricultural products soon in future.