Shortly after Ahmadinejad’s administration announced its plan to reduce Tehran’s population, the president’s special envoy for modernization and administrative transformation on Monday unveiled the plan to relocate 326 state-owned firms from Tehran. He said that they had been formally directed to leave Tehran. Meanwhile, the government is setting aside awards and incentives for people emigrating out of Tehran, including a four percent homeowner’s loan.

Speaking to the Mehr news agency, Ahmad Bozorgian said, “In general, the number of firms that must leave Tehran is 326, which have been directed to leave the capital based on a plan prepared by the administration and communicated to them. The plan also includes a timeline for the relocation of the companies and their subsidiaries.”

According to the administration’s plan, currently more than 160 state-owned firms are registered outside of Tehran, 115 of which have de facto offices in Tehran. These firms are among the ones directed to relocate out of Tehran.

Previously, on May 19, 2009, the administration had announced the list of 163 state-owned firms that had to pack their offices out of Tehran. According to the president’s special envoy for modernization and administrative transformation, “the administration’s plan lists the name of firms, the manner of relocation and the coordination steps with provinces chosen by the firms themselves.”

Bozorgian added, “The moving firms will be integrated into the local economy on the basis of their capabilities and the needs of the province.”

Last winter, the cabinet issued regulations granting benefits to employees at state-owned firms directed to relocate from Tehran.

According to the regulations, the employees will benefit from removal of overtime caps, loans with easy terms, marriage gifts, membership in health and sports facilities and additional benefits for working in less-privileged areas.

The ministry of science has also been ordered to accommodate students seeking to relocate from Tehran, as well as the children of employees whose firms have been ordered to leave Tehran.

These programs were introduced after Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said last spring that because of dangers associated with the location of Tehran over an earthquake fault line, “at least five million people must leave Tehran.”

Noting the danger that threatens the capital’s residents, Ahmadinejad said, “The fault lines beneath Tehran must be active right now. They have not erupted, thanks to the prayers of people, but there is no guarantee when an earthquake will hit Tehran.”

The head of the administration also promised that people who decided to relocate from Tehran would enjoy benefits, such as four percent homeowner’s loans.