Page 23 - IRANRptFeb20

FDI in Iran fell 30% in 2018 UN report suggests
The volume of foreign direct investment (FDI) placed in Iran declined more than 30% in 2018, dropping to $3.48bn from more than $5bn in 2017, according to the United Nations’ World Investment Report.
The harsh sanctions regime directed at Iran by the Trump administration since May last year has prompted a great many foreign companies to shutter their operations in Iran.
During the latter half of the Obama administration, FDI in Iran jumped from around $2bn in 2015 to $3.37bn in 2016, at the end of which the nuclear deal was signed by Iran and six major powers including the US. Donald Trump unilaterally pulled the US out of the multilateral accord but the other signatories remain signed up.
The upward FDI trend continued in 2017 with a figure of $5.01bn, up 48% y/y. Overall, the world’s FDI volume stood at $1,297bn in 2018, meaning Iran had a share of 0.26%
6.0​ Public Sector 6.1​ Budget
Iran rushes in subsistence money for all citizens to help quell petrol price protests
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has announced that he has expedited subsistence help that will start on November 18 for citizens, following the mass protests​ a​ gainst his government across Iran after officials brought in a sudden petrol price hike of a minimum 50% for motorists prior to the weekend.
According to a 30-minute cabinet address by Rouhani, each person in Iran will receive IRR550,000 (€4.00 per person at the street rate) for a family of four, or IRR2.05mn (€12.20) for a family of five per month.
Rouhani said the subsistence would be paid first thing tomorrow to people’s accounts, despite the government not receiving the dividends of the petrol price rise as yet.
“After implementing this plan, we saw that some people took to the streets to protest. I believe that it is natural when the administration implements a plan and not everyone agrees to it. Some people may be opposed [to that plan] and
23​ IRAN Country Report​ February 2020 www.intellinews.com