Early Breakfast

To me, economics is about morality.

— Dr Iraj Abedian

I was born in a very poor, underserviced village.

— Dr Iraj Abedian

I don’t believe in using resources for extravagant ends.

— Dr Iraj Abedian

Every week The Money Show’s Bruce Whitfield interviews a famous person about her or his attitude to money (hopes and fears, successes and failures, etc.) as part of his weekly “Make Money Mondays” feature.

This week he interviewed Pan-African Investments and Research Services CEO Dr Iraj Abedian.

Iranian born Abedian came to South Africa as a student in 1980, fascinated by the country’s history and eager to involve himself in the promotion of racial harmony.

What is it about money that excites him, or keeps him up at night?

Listen to the interview in the audio below (and/or scroll down for more quotes from it).

It [being poor] was a reality we accepted.

— Dr Iraj Abedian

If you had 75% or above; your education [in Iran at that time] was almost free.

— Dr Iraj Abedian

I was very proud of getting my first paycheque!

— Dr Iraj Abedian

I really began to learn English when I came to Cape Town in 1980.

— Dr Iraj Abedian

I was headhunted by Standard Bank.

— Dr Iraj Abedian

Some of my investments I did myself and some I gave to institutions to manage… I got more results than the institutions!

— Dr Iraj Abedian

I’ve developed a fairly systematic way of identifying [investment] opportunities.

— Dr Iraj Abedian

Money should be used for social things; for productive things.

— Dr Iraj Abedian

Money is only a means of creating what you aspire to create.

— Dr Iraj Abedian

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