TEHRAN May 20(Shana)--Oil industry plays a pivotal role in development of the country and creating jobs, member of Iran�s Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA) Assadollah Askaroladi said.

Speaking to Shana Askaroladi said over the past 100 years oil industry has been the driving force behind development and prosperity in the country.
He noted that oil industry should move towards privatization, adding a non-state oil industry could accelerate development and creating jobs.

Referring to cutting reliance on oil revenues, he said cutting reliance on oil revenue won�t happen any time soon and waning the economy off oil income needs rising investments.
Unfortunately, the state does not take private sector serious and as the figures show state controls more than 85 percent of the economic activities, he said adding countries like Malaysia and Germany have been able to reduce the role of the state in the economy or end it and this is the direction Iran should move towards in order to accelerate development.

By SHANA