INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
economic zones of the country on Thursday.The projects are to make investments in the industrial and development sectors of four free trade
zones, namely Arvand, Kish, Aras, and Anzali, and five special economic zones namely Pars, Petrochemical, Arg-e Bam, Sahlan, and Lorestan,
and create direct and indirect jobs for over 22,000 persons.In mid-August, the secretary of Iran's Free Zones High Council said that the
there are currently 15 free trade zones and 33 special economic zones active in the country and the necessary licenses have also been
obtained for the establishment of 79 new special economic zones.The official noted that although the overall trade balance of the free trade
and special economic zones together has always been positive, but this is the first time that the foreign trade balance of the free trade
in such areas, and the lack of unified and integrated management in these zones, and said the government is doing its best to resolve such
issues.The establishment of free trade zones (FTZs) in Iran dates back to the Iranian calendar year 1368 (March 1989 - March 1990) following
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
