Ayatollah Khamenei the Leader of the Islamic Revolution visited this morning a large industrial center in Tehran and inspected some of the country's industrial capabilities, especially in the area of car industry and production of domestic engines.
Ayatollah Khamenei was accompanied during this three-hour visit by a number of ministers as well as managers of the industrial and mining sectors of the country.
Addressing the managers and experts of the industrial and mining sectors of the country, His Eminence referred to the important role of industrial independence and progress in national growth and said that the country is making progress in different sectors, especially the industrial sector. He further reiterated: "Although valuable progress has been made in the industrial sector of the country, great leaps should be made in the industrial sector through intensified and tireless efforts, reliance on knowledge, and improving the quality of domestic products."
He said that today's visit to the industrial center was a symbolic move to stress the important role of the industrial sector in the progress of the country. "There used to be a dangerous illusion that development and rationality are in conflict with commitment to spiritual, moral, and religious values. But the Islamic Republic shattered this illusion."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution stressed that Islam is the faith of spirituality and knowledge and reiterated: "We can have a life that is accompanied by rationality as well as progress and at the same time remain committed to our moral values and religious obligations."
Ayatollah Khamenei added: "The employees and managers of the industrial sector should be the embodiment of this reality."
His Eminence said that the advances made in the industrial sector of the country are very valuable, further reiterating: "These advances are the beginning of our path and we should be able to stand on our feet in all industrial areas. And we should rely on domestic ideas and innovation."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution touched on Iran's potentials for independence and self-sufficiency in different industrial areas and added that industrial progress of the country will undoubtedly be welcomed by the world of Islam.
Ayatollah Khamenei stressed that the commercial policies of the country should be adjusted in order to prevent excessive imports in the industrial sector.
He expressed his dissatisfaction with the import policies of the country in the car industry and some of the decisions which have been made in this regard and reiterated that increasing imports in order to improve the quality of products in the car industry is not a logical decision. "Rather, appropriate policies should be implemented inside the country in order to improve the quality of domestic products."
Ayatollah Khamenei stressed the role of knowledge and research in the industrial sector and said that strong ties should be developed between universities and the industrial sector in order to achieve industrial progress in the country.
Ayatollah Khamenei further stressed the importance of exports in the industrial sector and said that all industrial units should develop their products with an eye to exporting their products. He added that government organizations should make comprehensive efforts to promote exports in the country.
He said that making concerted efforts is vital to achieving industrial progress and added that the future of the country and the Iranian nation is dependent on innovation, intelligence, and persistence on the part of industrial managers as well as those active in the industrial sector.
Ayatollah Khamenei stressed the importance of persistence and said that the current administration is a determined and hard-working administration which has prepared the ground for making persistent efforts in different sectors, particularly the industrial sector.
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution said that the great intelligence and talent of the Iranian people and their persistent efforts have prepared the ground for making great achievements and said: "Thanks to the determination, innovation, and self-confidence of the Iranian youth, the Islamic Republic is among a limited number of countries which possess the technology in certain fields. And this is a movement which has to be stepped up."