Baku, Azerbaijan, July 1
By Fatih Karimov - Trend:
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has outlined general policies of the country's sixth five-year development plan (2016-2021).
The plan comprises general policies on economic, technological, social, security and defensive, foreign policy, legal, and cultural affairs.
In the field of economy, it stipulates that the country's economic growth should continue steadily with an average rate of 8 percent during the five-year period.
It also supports the establishment of non-government companies for exploration and development of mines, oil and gas fields, and attracting foreign investment.
In the field of defense and security, the plan necessitates allocating at least 5 percent of the national budget to boosting the defense power.
It also emphasizes the need to upgrade the country's deterrent power through development of missile capabilities, and also promotion of intelligence operations with the goal of guaranteeing sustainable security at border areas.
On foreign policy, the plan underlines the need to safeguard and boost Iran's political achievements in Southwest Asia, and prioritizes economic diplomacy to promote foreign investment and make use of assets and expertise of Iranian living abroad.
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