TEHRAN – A parliament member has said that the country’s free and special economic zones have great potentials to accelerate economic development and the government should take the necessary measures to support the Free Zones High Council in this regard, Freena reported.

“Commercial-industrial free zones in the country are a special shortcut to increase the speed of the country's development, which should be given special attention,” Ruhollah Izadkhah said.

He praised the performance of Secretary of the Free Zones High Council Hojatollah Abdolmaleki in the current government, saying that during his tenure the council has managed to implement very positive projects in the country’s free zones.

The establishment of free trade zones (FTZs) in Iran dates back to the 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 non-oil exports.

The first two free trade zones of Iran were established in the south of the 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. 

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

EF/