Iran imports 23,000 tons of staple foods in 10 months

TEHRAN,Feb.14(MNA) - Some 23,000 tons of staple foods, including chicken meat, edible oil, and butter, have been imported into Iran via Tehran customs in the first ten months of the current Iranian calendar year (March 20, 2012-January 19, 2013). Some 842,000 tons of goods were also exported via the Tehran customs, showing 45 percent rise year on year. On October 22, 2012, Iranian First Vice-President Mohammad-Reza Rahimi rejected the idea of reinventing the coupon-based supply of staple foods. The Donya-ye Eqtesad daily quoted Rahimi as saying that reserves of staple foods, such as rice, meat, milk, and edible oil are sufficient and there is no need to re-launch the coupon-base system. Meanwhile, member of the Iranian parliament's economic committee Arslanan Fathipour has said Iran might be implementing the electronic discount cards for strategic products. Fathipour said that given the today's economic situation in the country, and the imposed international sanctions, the coupons must be brought back in the shape of electronic coupons. This would be the second time Iran is using such strategy to support its economy. After the Islamic Revolution in 1981 the country was experiencing great deficit of some foods and services. At that time it was ordered to implement the special discount coupons for 10 emergency first products and services, to reduce the overall prices. After the economy stabilized, Iran canceled the discount coupons.