Rouhani hails Iranian banks performance

"Banks should continue their march to secure further trust from the world and the people in the country,” Rouhani said at the annual meeting of the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) General Assembly held in Tehran.

"We have progressed in all economic indices and the role of banks in industry, agriculture and service is pivotal.”

He said the government has already presented three bills about countering money laundering and financial support for terrorism to Parliament and that the world’s attitude toward Iranian banks will change if the bills are approved.

Rouhani also stressed the importance of promoting relations with foreign banks in order to make use of their effective financial measures.

"Relations with foreign banks have been improved and this path must be continued,” said Rouhani, adding: "Banks around the world have confidence in our banks and this is the result of transparent capital and balance sheets.”

Financial transparency

Rouhani said financial transparency serves national interests in the long term.  

Highlighting the inflation rate, the president said the country witnessed single-digit inflation for the current Iranian calendar year which will end on March 20.

"Some people believed that climbing out of recession should be the first goal, and controlling inflation, the second; but we succeeded in both at the same time.”

The president described people's hope and confidence in controlling inflation as the basis for stability of the economy and investment, saying that some of the cancerous tumors are out of the banking system and the capital of the banks and their international connections have increased.

He also went on to say: "By monitoring and transparency, we have reached the goal of single-digit inflation rate".

He hoped that the CBI would continue its way to control inflation for the coming years.

Stating that people's confidence in the CBI has increased, the president said: "With the great work of oil engineers, oil production and export have returned to their former conditions within a few months".

In recent years, more than 2 million net jobs have been created, he continued.

"With the new plan for renovation of old neighborhoods and buildings, 280,000 new jobs will be generated," Rouhani said.

The 57th annual meeting of the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) General Assembly opened with President Rouhani and senior financial officials in attendance.

Source:IRNA