"In the past two decades the growth of income per capita averaged a mere 0.8 percent annually." The MPO reported that in the last Iranian year (ended March 21) the level of real income per person stood about the same as that in the early 1980's. Also, the 2002 World Development Index (WDI) indicates that Iran's 2002 per capita income, based on 1995 figures, is about $ 1,649. The same figure is $ 13,000, $ 5,000 and $ 3,000 in South Korea, Malaysia and Turkey, respectively, the MPO said. In another section of the report it said the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) has announced that per capita growth in income in the last two years has exceed the rate of growth in population. In the latest news on the economy, Minister of Economy and Finance said that controlling inflation and creating more jobs are the two priorities for the Iranian economy in the current and coming years. Tahmasb Mazaheri told reporters that although reaching these goals are difficult, 'they are not impossible'. Liquidity growth should be properly channeled into investments to achieve a single digit inflation rate and boost employment. He said liquidity, if it is increased in tandem with production and will not lead to inflation. "Hence, using banking deposits and foreign direct investments are among the appropriate instruments to improve the economy's performance." Based on the data released by the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) inflation rate was 15.8 percent and 691,000 jobs were created in last Iranian year (ended March 20). He said the final figures for the last year are 7.8 percent rise in the gross domestic product (GDP) taking account of oil revenues and 7.4 percent without oil income. A central aspect to reach the economic goals in the fourth five-year development plan (March 2005-2010) are expansion of financial resources. PIN/IRIB