The Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance stated: “I deeply believe that the path to the country’s economic development passes through free trade zones.”
According to the Public Relations and International Affairs Department of Arvand Free Zone Organization, quoting IRNA, Ali Madanizadeh, during a one-day visit to the Arvand Free Zone, met with a group of economic activists from Abadan and Khorramshahr at the Shahid Ghanouti Conference Hall. He emphasized: “The country’s economy has been entangled in a rent-seeking state-driven system tied to intense political relations, and it will only be rescued when we can transform these relations in free zones under different regulatory frameworks.”
He added that unfortunately, during the implementation of the Free Trade Zones Law, these zones have been heavily constrained by conflicting and inconsistent bylaws and regulations, leading to a loss of their intended autonomy.
Madanizadeh named the revival of free zones and export-oriented production as his top priority at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Finance, stressing that such an approach would attract investment and restore the private sector’s role in the national economy.
He announced the establishment of the National Free Trade and Economic Zones Development Committee in Tehran, which will hold regular expert meetings with economic stakeholders and relevant officials.
The minister explained that this committee will specifically identify challenges facing free trade zones and remove barriers caused by contradictory directives, bylaws, and regulations through economic analysis, highlighting that the formation of the Arvand Free Zone Development Committee is the first priority.
Referring to the government’s strategy of decentralization, he noted that certain authorities will be delegated to provincial directors, including officials in taxation and banking sectors.