TEHRAN – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has underlined the need for supporting small and medium-sized enterprises to help the national economy emerge from recession.

In a meeting with national exemplary entrepreneurs in Tehran on Monday, Rouhani said that the administration will pay special attention to improve the business environment, streamline customs affairs, and modify tax and social welfare laws.

In this line, Iranian Central Bank Governor Valiollah Seif said on June 1 that the administration has placed the top priority on curbing the inflation rate and boosting domestic production. 

The central bank governor added that through providing the producers with required working capital, the administration plans to curb the inflation rate. 

Meanwhile, Finance and Economic Affairs Minister Ali Tayyebnia said that the administration has prepared special plans to bring the national economy out of recession until a single-digit inflation rate is achieved.  

Iranian Management and Planning Organization’s Director Mohammad Baqer Nobakht has announced that the inflation rate for the 12-month period ended the second Iranian calendar month of Ordibehesht (April 21-May 21) hit 14.3 percent, falling from 14.5 percent in the previous month.  

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecast a 0.6 percent gross domestic product (GDP) growth for Iran in 2015.