Statements During a Visit to the Capabilities of the Automotive Industry

In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

God willing, may the new year be blessed for all of you dear ones; the managers of the industry sector and the thinkers and practitioners in this very important field. We hope that the Almighty God grants you success and that you can advance your country and your nation with your activities, your innovations, and the enthusiasm accompanied by faith that you possess.

My visit today has a symbolic meaning; in addition to being a visit to a significant and important sector. Our intended message is to draw attention to the importance of industry in the advancement of the country. By industry, we mean the industry that springs from your own minds, thoughts, innovations, and faith. We believe that industry has a fundamental impact on the progress of the country; in fact, it is the main element in being considered an advanced country, and the prerequisites for that are progress in industry, with conditions that are determined by the thoughts, beliefs, and faiths of our nation and you dear ones.

There has been a dangerous illusion in minds, injected into some minds - perhaps this illusion still exists in some - and that is the illusion of opposition and contradiction between living rationally and being developed on one hand, and living spiritually and morally on the other. It has been believed by some that if society wants to live rationally, practically, and rapidly in the path of progress, it must distance itself from ethics, spirituality, religion, and God! If we think of moral cohesion, if we are attached to spirituality, if we observe the rules and limits of religious and ethical norms, we must give up being advanced; we must turn a blind eye to rational living! Such an illusion has existed. There are clear historical reasons for this assumption; this false assumption also has sociological reasons.

What we want to emphasize is that the Islamic Republic and the rule of religion and Islam have refuted this illusion. We want and can live rationally, logically, scientifically, and advanced, while at the same time adhering to our moral values and committed to our religious faith and acting upon the duties and necessities of our religious life; rather, we should advance further in this direction.

Islam, which is the religion of spirituality, is also the religion of science. The Islamic community in the fourth and fifth centuries of Hijra were the most advanced human societies of their time. Our scientific luminaries from that era still shine like stars in the sky of knowledge after a thousand years; however, for specific reasons, we have experienced stagnation; we have faced decline.

Today, our movement is forward; it is a leap forward, and it must be so; both in scientific fields and in spiritual and ethical fields. Industry can be an advanced industry, while at the same time observing religious, ethical, and human considerations in industry. We want you, the industrialists of our country, the managers of industry, to be the symbol of this truth. Committed to religion and at the same time, based on that commitment, dedicated to the leap forward in industry.

Well, we are not satisfied with what has been achieved in the field of industry so far. Although what has been achieved so far is very valuable; it is not that we do not recognize the value of these, we do not appreciate the efforts made in this regard; no, all of these are preserved in their place, but this is the beginning of work, the beginning of the path.

We have experienced and endured a long-standing backwardness in the automotive industry. Your great art is that you have been able to cut this long-standing backwardness with your own efforts; that is, to shake off this state of drowsiness and sleepiness that has lasted almost thirty years since the entry of the automotive industry into the country. Since the 1960s, when the automotive industry entered the country - for about thirty years - we have been stagnant. We remained in a state of mere imitation. We cannot blame the officials of the country in the 1980s; because the 1980s were the decade of the revolution, the decade of sacred defense; as the respected official said, this hall is the hall of arming the warriors; all the homes of the Iranian nation were, in fact, in some way the rear of the battlefield. The 1980s cannot be blamed; but before the 1980s, before the revolution, yes; it must be calculated, it must be held accountable. The period of imitative movement for automotive manufacturing in countries that wanted to become automakers is four to five years. Why should it take so long here? This is the sin of those who did not think about the interests of the country; who did not care for the dignity of the country; who did not consider the loss and waste of the material resources of the country important. However, in the Islamic Republic system, since the 1990s, you started; well, progress has been good. Today, this national engine, which has been created from idea and design to its last components by Iranian art, Iranian fingertips, Iranian thought, and Iranian effort, is a symbol of dignity for the country; this is very meaningful. The issue is not just that we have been able to produce a car engine; the issue is beyond that. Today, the world is a competitive arena for various types of engines, and the car engine, as a common means of life, is one of the most prominent items. In this tumultuous world, you have been able to showcase the art of the Iranian artist here; this is very valuable. One's heart bleeds when recalling that for many years in our cars - whether those that came from abroad or those that were seemingly produced domestically - engines operated that were entirely foreign; others had made them; another worker had constructed them. Instead of engaging our own workers, utilizing their art, benefiting them, and advancing the country, we actually helped others. Today, thanks be to God, you have provided this opportunity, you have created this possibility; this is very valuable. I commend this good work; however, as I mentioned, this is the first step.

One of the conditions for the development of a country is its industrial independence. We must be able to stand on our own feet in all industrial fields; rely on our own thoughts; utilize our own capabilities. Of course, the world is a world of exchange; but a mutual exchange. Exchange; giving and taking. Only when you can stand on your own feet in the field of industry can you have a voice in the industrial exchange market. This is what we want; we need this. Islamic Iran deserves this; with our history, with our great civilizational heritage, with this popular movement, with the readiness of the youth, with the abundant talents that exist in our country; we need this. We must be able to raise a flag in the field of industry in the Islamic world. And the Islamic world will welcome it - now I will refer later to the issue of exports, which is one of our fundamental issues - and the world will look at the Islamic Republic and see that this nation, with its intelligence, with its capabilities, has been able to achieve these advancements in this field.

Well, there are a few points and matters in this regard that I will mention. One issue is that if we value domestic industry - now in the field of automobiles, which is currently our topic, or in other fields - we must certainly adjust our trade adjustment policy in this regard. That is, excessive imports will certainly be detrimental. The policymaking bodies of the country and those who set the executive policies must pay attention to this point. Abundance and cheapness are very good, but more important and better is the growth of domestic industry; the strengthening of domestic industry. It is not right that for various reasons, which are often baseless, we open the door to imports. I have repeatedly told the officials - various officials in different government sectors - that if your philosophy, your logic for increasing imports and facilitating the import of industrial products is that you say the quality of domestic products must improve, then put pressure on this sector. There are policies that can compel the domestic producer to enhance quality. The worst option for improving domestic quality is to open the way for foreign products; this is the worst option. There are better options for us to improve quality.

Another important point is the issue of research; research and technology development. Today, all industries in the world, including the automotive industry, are knowledge-based. They are constantly thinking, working, researching, to make it more complete, flawless, beautiful, more fuel-efficient, and cheaper. This is only possible with scientific advancement, with contemplation, precision, and research. The door to research must be kept open. Various bodies, industrial factories, and industrial managers, as well as government managers overseeing industry, must make great efforts regarding research. This helps the industry to maintain itself in tough competitive conditions; to not fall behind in competition with advanced rivals. This is possible through research.

An important issue regarding our industries, including the automotive industry, is the issue of exports. Various government bodies must strive to secure export markets. This is one of those very sensitive, very artistic tasks based on diverse and multifaceted efforts. Some of our neighboring countries earn billions of dollars annually from their car exports! This is a very important task; that is, from the beginning, the movement of car manufacturers must be monitored - now I mention cars as a prominent example, the entire industrial sector is of this kind - so that the door to exports is opened; that is, from the beginning, thought must be given, and government bodies must consider finding export markets as one of their goals.

Another issue is the environment - which I heard in the reports here that attention is being paid to the environment, and I want to emphasize this issue - that is, one of the fundamental indicators that must be considered in the construction of engines and all industrial devices is the issue of the environment. Environmental destruction is one of those things whose impact is felt by a nation, a geographical region, and sometimes the entire world when it becomes irreparable. The issue of the environment is very important. Islam also emphasizes the environment greatly. Preserving the environment, observing the environment, this thing that the world has now achieved, is among the teachings of Islam. This is also a very important point that must be taken into account.

If I were to summarize everything that is in my mind regarding your work, dear brothers, in one sentence, it would be this: your innovation, your intelligence, your effort and persistence guarantee the future of this country; they guarantee the future of this nation. Do not tire of work, do not tire of effort and persistence. We know countries that entered this field after us, and now they are ahead of us! Because of their persistence, because they did not tire of work and that senior managers devoted their efforts to not abandon work. One of the major shortcomings I have observed in some of our governments over the years is the lack of follow-up and pursuit of work. They start work with enthusiasm and zeal, then it remains half-finished! Why? Because managers do not support, do not follow up; whether financial support, administrative support, managerial support, encouragement, attention, removing obstacles that are minor from the path. Sometimes a minor obstacle can delay a great work for a long time; human experience shows this. We have seen great works that have been halted, and when we went to investigate why they were halted, we found that there was a small snag somewhere; they did not make the effort to remove this small snag, and this great flow remained halted. Fortunately, the current government is an active government, a pursuing government, they are truly caring, the respected minister is also young, energetic, and motivated. We hope, God willing, that you will carry out your work in the best possible way.

Agriculture, which is very important to us and is, in my opinion, a fundamental pillar of the stability and life of our country, depends on industry. The advancement of agriculture is only possible with industrial advancement. That is, my emphasis on industry should not negate the agricultural sector. This is actually an affirmation and support for the overall progress of the country, which includes the agricultural sector as well. I insist that the industrial sector should advance, and this advancement is possible with research, with utilizing the abundant intelligence and creativity that, thanks be to God, exists in you dear youth, and with the skilled fingers of Iranians.

Let me tell you, many of the countries that are today renowned in the field of industry and are actually among the first in the world, the reliable information I have is that their intelligence level is much lower than the average intelligence level of our country! However, through hard work and great effort, they have been able to advance. Intelligence and possessing mental capacity is one of the very important factors that we have. We must also accompany that second element, which is the element of work and persistent effort and not tiring. Know that in that case, God willing, the country will have a leap forward, will progress rapidly, and will accomplish great works; just as today we see that our country is among the top ten countries in various sectors. Now here, in one case, one of the gentlemen said, we are among the six countries in the world that have this capability and can accomplish this work; these are very important. This is a country that has been miles away from industry, innovation, creativity, and activity in the pre-revolution era, has not had hope, has not had self-confidence, and today has reached this point; this is very important. Therefore, the path is open for you, and there is abundant potential for a leap. We ask the Almighty God to grant you success and assistance, God willing.

This issue of connection with universities, which one of the gentlemen mentioned, is also very important; it is very important. For several years, I have been advising universities and government agencies to establish a strong connection between industry and universities. We need to create knowledge hubs in universities, specifically for the industry sector and various sectors of industry, for example, specifically for the automotive sector, to provide support.

God willing, may God grant you success and may you be included in the prayers of the Awaited Savior (may our souls be sacrificed for him) and may the pure souls of the martyrs and the sacred spirit of Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified) be pleased with you. Today was a good day for me; I was pleased to see this collection of effort and the product of effort, and I am grateful to God, and God willing, I will pray for you.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings.