Mahdi Heydari, at a brainstorming session with the head of Iran's Investment Organization and investment agency managers, identified the main challenge of foreign investment as the gap between the issuance of licenses and the actual entry of capital. He stated that last year, licenses were issued for approximately $17 billion in foreign investment, noting that only $1 billion of this amount has entered the country.
Facilitating Processes and Reducing Administrative Barriers
Heydari pointed to the necessity of facilitating processes and reducing administrative barriers to close the gap between license issuance and capital entry, saying that agencies can play an effective role in introducing projects and identifying investors. He also explained that the issuance of an investment license does not guarantee the principal capital or the profitability of the project, but rather ensures the possibility of transferring the principal and profits within the regulatory framework.
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Development of Investment Agencies and Important Projects
Heydari, referring to the process of issuing licenses for investment agencies, said that about 70 requests have been received in this regard, with the documents of 35 applicants being complete and licenses issued for 12 cases. Additionally, the head of the Investment Organization announced the collection and standardization of information on approximately 300 investment projects, with the organization's goal being to increase this number to around 800 projects.
Heydari also reported the identification of about 150 important projects in the country with a total value of approximately $300 billion, adding that these projects encompass areas such as oil and gas, mining, logistics, energy, and technology. He mentioned the pursuit of 20 important and leading projects with a total value of around $110 billion, highlighting the Azadegan oil field as one of the most significant projects being pursued.
The head of the Investment Organization also announced efforts to utilize new financing tools and emphasized that the organization is looking to use new technologies, including artificial intelligence, in its activities to better process information and introduce investment opportunities. He also pointed to the necessity of strengthening the organization's structure and increasing its human resources, stating that the government must play an enabling role and remove barriers so that the private sector and specialized agencies can be more active in attracting domestic and foreign investment.
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