1. irst Vice President Es’haq Jahangiri: Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has given the nod for the allocation of $500 million from the National Development Fund of Iran to support local producers of pharmaceutical products. (IRNA)
2. Russian Minister of Economic Development Maksim Oreshkin: Removal of Iran from oil market is not practical. (IRNA)
3. Nayereh Pirouz-Bakht, the head of Institute of Standards and Industrial Research of Iran: Iran and Russia have the capacity to make up for the sanctions [reimposed by the United States]. (IRNA)
4. Tehran’s police chief, Brigadier Hossein Rahimi: Selling and purchasing foreign currency by street dealers are forbidden. People should refer to currency exchange shops to carry out such transactions. (Otaghiranonline.ir)
5. Outgoing Minister of Roads and Urban Development Abbas Akhoundi: Simultaneous landing and takeoff of two airplanes is now possible at Tehran's Mehrabad International Airport. (Mehr News Agency)
6. Syrian Ambassador to Iran Adnan Mahmoud: Syria’s gates are open to Iranian economic actors for the reconstruction of the war-torn country. (IRNA)
7. Malaysian envoy to Iran, Octavino Alimudin: Malaysia-Iran trade has experienced a 150% rise compared with last year. (IRNA)
8. Uzbekistan Ambassador to Iran Bakhodir Abdullaev: A total of 117 enterprises in Uzbekistan are working in partnership with Iranian economic operators and traders. (IRNA)
9. Managing Director of Iran Water Resources Management Mohammad Haj-Rasouliha: Annual average precipitation [in Iran] has decreased to 200 mm from 250 mm over the past 11 years. (IRNA)
10. Tehran Mayor Mohammad Ali Afshani: The money from selling 7,000 billion rials ($50.9 million) worth of bonds have recently been deposited in Tehran Municipality's account. (IRNA)
11. President of Trade Promotion Organization of Iran Mojtaba Khosrotaj: As few as 500 companies account for 82% of Iran's exports. (IRNA)
12. Farshad Momeni, economist: Consumer goods account for 99% of all commodities smuggled into Iran. (IRNA)
13. Mohammad Baqer Olfat, the deputy head of judiciary for social affairs: Inefficiency of customs procedure is one of the main causes of smuggling. (IRNA)
14. Pejman Azadi, the head of Flower and Ornamental Plants Association of Iran: Iran has the capacity to export up to $1 billion worth of flowers and ornamental plants per year, yet only 5% of this sum have been realized. (IRNA)
15. Director of IT Department of Institute of Standards and Industrial Research of Iran Mostafa Ramandi: Out of 130,000 manufacturing units licensed by the Ministry of Industries, Mining and Trade, only 19% are complying with ISIRI standards. (IRNA)
16. Abbas Abrishami, the head of Iran’s National Union of Elevator: Ninety percent of elevators [in Iran] are substandard. (IRNA)
17. Hassan Salehi, the head of Iran Fisheries Organization: Per capita fish consumption in Iran is half the global average of 21 kilograms. (ILNA)
18. Alireza Kolahi Samadi, a member of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture: Turkey and Saudi Arabia don't have a copper mine, but the duo’s copper exports are 10 times more than Iran’s. (IRNA)