TEHRAN, Aug. 23 (MNA) � Deputy minister of economy says through 7 official correspondences with the World Bank, Iran has improved its ranking in ease of doing business index in 2015.

Deputy Minister of Economy Shapour Mohammadi told reporters on Sunday that Iran has had seven official correspondences with the World Bank in order to improve its ranking in ease of doing business index. According to him, the World Bank has promoted the country�s ranking in 2015 from 132 to 130 (out of 189 economies) thanks to the combined efforts of Ministry of Energy, Customs and General Administration of Registration of Companies.

�World Bank experts have reviewed and approved some of the declared corrections of Iran�s Ministry of Economy on the ease of access to electricity permits and reduction of time, water permits, construction permits and protection of the rights of small shareholders,� said Mohammdi, expressing hope that the country�s ranking in doing business would further improve this year.

He added that Iran�s sixth development plan aims to bring the country�s Ease of Doing Business rank under 100.

Iran is the second largest economy in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region after Saudi Arabia, with an estimated Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of US$D 406.3 billion in 2014. Iran also ranks second in the world in natural gas reserves and fourth in proven crude oil reserves.

By Mehr News Agency