TEHRAN (Iran News) – Secretary of the Free Zones High Council Mr. Saeed Mohammad says Iran and China can launch the joint free zone under the Shanghai Cooperation Summit (SCO) treaty and Iran can also launch a joint zone with Eurasia under the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) treaty.
Speaking at the opening of the 13th Exhibition of Investment Opportunities and the 8th International Exhibition of the Stock Exchange, Banking, Insurance, and Privatization called “KishINVEX 2021” on Kish Island on Monday evening, Mohammad said that investors are the crusaders of the economic war and people and the country need the endeavors of economic activists more than ever.
He added that activists in the fields of bank, insurance and stock market should strengthen the resistance of the country in the hard times of sanctions regardless of the interests of the islands and by focusing on national interests in order to improve the livelihood of the people.
Mohammad went on to say that although sanctions are tough and annoying, some part of the problems is because of incorrect performance and self-interest approach in some parts of the economy either in the private or government sectors, adding that all should work to improve the economic indexes in favor of the public and to increase it.
He noted that the number of the free zones will increase to 15 from 8 and they have different projects, noting that with including 32 special economic zones, 45 percent of the exports of the country are carried out from these areas and free zones account for 2 percent of the exports.
Mohammad went on to say that so far 150 investment opportunities in the free zones have been presented and the information and data will be updated daily and special facilities will be provided to the investors.
Touching upon the establishment of offshore bank in the free zones, he said the issue has been recently discussed in the Supreme National Security Council, adding that the launch of international bourse in the free zones is another issue which is pursued for years but head of Securities and Exchange Organization is determined the international bourse to be launched in the Kish Free zone.
Mohammad went on to say that today there is a strong diplomacy with 16 neighboring states and Iran can have joint free zone with China under the framework of the SCO treaty and the country can also have joint free zone with Eurasia based on the EAEU treaty.
Meanwhile on the sidelines of the exhibition, Mohammad talked about the ban on imports of South Korean home appliances to the free trade zones and said since all countries use economic tools for political issues, when South Korea blocked Iran assets it is Iran’s turn to have reciprocal action and here is the place that Iran can take reciprocal action against Korea.
He hailed the Supreme Leader’s prudence on banning the imports of the Korean products while Koreans have blocked Iran’s assets at the time the country needs its forex, reiterating that the leader’s order should be carried out properly.
He also said that by the launch of the offshore bank in the zones, the forex of Iranian expatriates or resources of the foreign investors can enter the bank, reiterating that any investor can launch the bank in Iran and in its free zones.
