Establishing joint free zones with neighboring countries is atop the agenda in the current administration of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, an official said.
Deputy Head of Secretariat of the Supreme Council of Free Industrial and Special Economic Zones for Economic Affairs Ahmad Jamali said that the Secretariat has considered the establishment of free zones with neighboring countries as its legal obligation, aimed at production growth and more productivity from abundant capacities and potentials existing in the country.
Accordingly, Iran submitted its request to the officials of 18 neighboring states for the establishment of joint free zones, and all of these countries welcomed the proposal, he stated.
To date, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Syria, Iraq and Turkey have agreed with Iran’s proposal of setting up joint free zones, he added.
Negotiations have been held with the Russian Federation regarding the establishment of joint free zones, he said, adding that expert-level sessions both in-person and via videoconference have been held between officials of the two countries and it was agreed to set up joint free zones between the Moscow-Lotus Metropolises Special Economic zones and the Chabahar and Anzali free zones.
The establishment of joint free zones among Caspian Sea littoral states is another measures taken into consideration, Jamali added.