Mohammad Jafar Ghaem Panah, in a meeting of the provincial planning and development council of Gilan, which was held virtually with the presence of the President, referred to the vast economic, cultural, and social capacities of this province and emphasized the necessity of strengthening infrastructure and increasing Gilan's share of resources.
Economic Changes and Demographic Challenges
Ghaem Panah stated that Gilan is dynamic and transformation-based in various economic fields, saying: this province has a rich historical, cultural, and artistic background and possesses significant capacities in the fields of science, knowledge, and economy compared to other provinces. He pointed to the inflation rate in Gilan and said: analysis of statistical data shows that the inflation rate at certain times this year has been lower than the national average, indicating developments and growth in the province's developmental fields.
The Executive Vice President also referred to the challenges related to the population in the province and stated: with an area of about 14,000 square kilometers and a population of over 2.7 million, Gilan faces demographic issues and challenges. He added: the birth-to-death ratio in Gilan is not favorable, and the population growth rate is at a low level. Additionally, the age structure of the population is also not in good condition; the ratio of middle-aged and elderly individuals is increasing, while the number of young and child populations has significantly decreased.
Economic Situation and Need for Investment
Ghaem Panah referred to the employment situation in Gilan and said: the unemployment rate in the province reached about 5.1 percent in the spring of this year, which is better than the national rate of 6.9 percent. However, maintaining and improving this indicator requires continuous efforts from executive institutions and strengthening job opportunities. He pointed to the status of industrial licenses in the province and added: so far, 686 industrial establishment licenses have been issued in Gilan, some of which have not yet reached the operational stage.
The Executive Vice President emphasized the importance of accelerating investment project implementation, stating: nearly 59 percent of the licenses issued in the province are in a situation that should be converted into active production units by removing obstacles and facilitating processes. He also referred to the status of industrial units with operating licenses and said: approximately 91 percent of the units with operating licenses in the province are active, indicating the high capacity of economic and production activities in Gilan.
The Necessity of Improving Infrastructure and Preserving the Environment
Ghaem Panah described the status of public service infrastructure in Gilan as follows: although this province has achieved successes in some developmental indicators, it faces fundamental problems in providing drinking water and sewage networks. He stated: the deficiencies in sewage collection and treatment infrastructure not only create health issues for citizens but also cause serious damage to the environment and natural resources of the province. The Executive Vice President emphasized the need for special attention to this area and said: considering the climatic characteristics and environmental sensitivities of Gilan, the development of the sewage network and the enhancement of water and health service infrastructure should be prioritized in the province's executive plans.
Finally, Ghaem Panah referred to Gilan's capacities in the field of renewable energies and said: the climatic conditions of the province create some limitations for the development of certain types of renewable energy, but the existing capacities should not be overlooked.
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