[caption id="attachment_115627" align="alignright" width="185"] Iran's deputy Minister of Petroleum Mansour Moazzami[/caption]

TEHRAN Feb 25(Shana)--Oil industry has played a great role in achieving economic growth this year, deputy Minister of Petroleum Mansour Moazzami said.

Speaking to Shana, Moazzami said after years of recession and negative economic growth, economic growth turned positive this year hitting approximately five percent over the first half of the year.

He continued: "This year the country moved closer to the rule of law and order with positive consequences for all sectors of the economy."
The government is committed to go ahead with rationalism and avoiding excitement, he said, noting oil industry is responsible for the bulk of economic growth the country has achieved this year, he said.
Elsewhere in his remarks he said: "Petroleum Ministry successfully fulfilled its tasks pertaining to rising production capacity of oil and gas and could provide feedstock and fuel needs of large industries of the country without interruption."

He said that boosting gas exports, raising production from shared oil and gas fields and completion of projects are the top priorities of Petroleum Ministry in next Iranian calendar year beginning March 21.
According to Moazzami, the country is expected to experience higher levels of economic growth next year.

By SHANA