WEALTHY
BUSINESSMEN ARE TRYING TO LEAVE IRAN
It is
reported that, in Iran, wealthy businessmen are trying to
transfer their capitals abroad with an expectation of a
possible US military campaign. Meanwhile, it is also said
that many of the entrepreneurs, who came from out of the
country relying on the guarantees given at Khatemi’s period
of office and placed in Iran, stopped their investments and
now are planning to leave. United Arab Emirates (UAE) is at
the top of the list of preferable countries for foreign
investments. It is noted that most of the buildings recently
constructed in that country -and especially in Dubai- have
been bought by Iranians. Also UAE government is trying to
provide luring commercial facilitations to the Iranian
entrepreneurs. Fleeing of foreign capital out of Iran had
started last year in November. It is noticed that in that
period, Dubai capital achieved to attract a total of 20
billion dollars from Iran.
Reformist
Muhammad Reza Khatemi, the leader of Iran Islamic
Participation Party and also brother of Muhammad Khatemi, in
a statement he made last year pointed out that safe deposit
boxes of Central Bank of Iran was emptied, the national
capital was steadily fleeing out, no increase had been made
in industrial products and unregistered economy was in daily
increase.
It is
reported that Iranian Administration, uneasy with the
current economic situation prevailing in the country, has
started to take steps against this situation. In fact, the
Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Iran, Mohammad Jafer
Mojarad, in a public announcement he made in August,
requested from Iranian investors that “not to open dollar
accounts, not to perform their trade activities using with
US dollars and -should it necessitates- to give information
prior to the Central Bank of Iran about the activities” from
the beginning of September. He also warned that dollar
accounts would be expropriated should an embargo be applied
by the international community.
At the same
period of fleeing of capital out of Iran which has been
going on from the beginning of 2005, an increasing
emigration wave has been seeing especially towards the USA,
Germany, Canada, France and Sweden. The prevailing
circumstance, which causes anxiety among businessmen and
economic circles of the country and also creates a factor of
criticism against the government, is expected to pave the
way for a serious economic crisis in the country.
