TEHRAN- The value of export from Anzali Free Zone in north of Iran rose 125 percent in the first half of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21-September 22), as compared to the first half of the past year, the managing director of Anzali Free Zone Organization announced.

Isa Farhadi said that 125 percent growth in the export of products produced in Anzali Free Zone shows the success of this organization in realizing one of the most important indicators of the implementation of resistance economy policies in free zones.

He also announced 19 percent rise in investment making in this zone during the first half of the present year.

As recently announced by the vice secretary of Iran’s Free Zones High Council, over 320 trillion rials (about $1.142 billion) of investment has been made in the country’s free zones in the course of one year from the seventh calendar month of Mehr in the past Iranian year to the same month in this year (September 23, 2021-Septemebr 22, 2022).

Ahmad Jamali said that the performance of free trade and special economic zones should be evaluated in relation to the past trend, goals and regional competitors, while a specific time frame should also be considered for it.

Also, the secretary of Free Zones High Council had previously announced that 360 trillion rials (about $1.285 billion) of investment has been made in the country’s free zones in the past Iranian calendar year 1400 (ended on March 20).

Saeed Mohammad also announced that 60 trillion rials (about $214 million) of investment was made in the free zones during the first quarter of the current Iranian year (March 21-June 21).

He said 2,500 industrial units are currently active in the free zones of the country.

Located in Gilan Province, north of Iran, Anzali Free Trade-Industrial Zone is the sole free zone in the southern part of the Caspian Sea with an area of 9,400 hectares and 40 kilometers shoreline.

It is one of the country’s seven free trade-industrial zones.

Located on the North-South International Corridor, having a special position in connection with the Caspian littoral states, proximity to the ports of Astrakhan and Lagan in Russia, Aktau in Kazakhstan, and Baku in Azerbaijan, access through convenient routes to the consumer markets of CIS countries, and proximity to Rasht International Airport are some advantages of Anzali Free Zone.

Establishment of free trade zones (FTZs) in Iran dates back to Iranian calendar year 1368 (March 1989 - March 1990) following the fall in the country’s oil income in the preceding year which prompted the government to promote the non-oil exports.

The first two free trade zones of Iran were established in the south of country. The first one was Kish Free Trade Zone established in 1368 on Kish Island in the Persian Gulf and the second one was Qeshm Free Trade Zone established the year after on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz. 

Some five other free trade zones have been also established in the country since then, including Chabahar in southeastern Sistan-Baluchestan Province, Arvand in southwestern Khuzestan Province, Anzali in northern Gilan Province, Aras in East-Azarbaijan Province and Maku in West-Azarbaijan Province, both in the northwest of the country. 

Development of existing free trade zones and establishment of new FTZs has become one of the major economic approaches of Iranian government.

MA/MA