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FEMOZAFédération Mondiale des Zones Franches

Geneva - Switzerland

SPECIAL REPORTS15YEARS 20

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ARAS - FREE TRADE ZONE

FEMOZA

On February FEMOZA’s President Mr. Juan Torrents, met Aras Free Trade Zone

in the Islamic Republic of Iran

On February FEMOZA’s President Mr. Juan Torrents, met Aras Free Trade Zone in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

For FEMOZA, was not the first professional visit to Iran, we participated in a UN Mission in 2004 preparing an Investment Program Review, the aim of this second visit

was to resume contacts with Iran and the Iranian Free & Special Zones, to analyse, make recommendations with action plans and assist them with future improvement of regulatory, look for new trade options and advance implementing Free Zones and Foreign Direct Investment new technologies, in order to achieve objectives and the most important to assess their position in front FDI projects.The program was coordinated by our Partners in Dubai Global Resources, the agenda was very tight, but a near perfect organization allowed us to follow and achieve the expectations of the visit.

Welcome at Tabriz Airport

The visit started at Tabriz Airport with a welcome address and a working meeting with Dr. Masjedi, Aras FTZ, Deputy CEO, followed by a diner with Mr. Arab-Baghi, Aras FTZ CEO



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In Femoza, we have a strong thought you know a Zone only when you put your feet on the ground, then you are able to identify strengths and weaknesses as: Location, Communications, Phases of Implementation, Infrastructures, Architecture, Environment, Labour Standards, Management Model, Public and Private Services offered and other specific circumstances of the Region. First conclusions from the visit to Aras Free Trade Zone are very positive, off course they can be and have to be improved but the base is solid. Is located in a cross-border region with CIS Countries specially Azerbaijan and Armenia, with a target market of 300 Million people, Communications within 6 corridors and the silk Road, the infrastructures of the Zone are open and with a very easy modulated architecture, labour force is mainly is from the city of Jolfa so it is guaranteed.

We visited several industries, caught our interest a yarn factory with modern technology but with a very special care about environment, all the factories visited kept a very high labour standard for workers, most of them with applying latest technologies, a very wide range of activities as heater radiators, polypropylene big bags, food process and perfumes, the visit to the area was crowned by a very professional and successful ecologic agro-industry under Free Zone regime, a real experience that many countries should take as an example to apply, Aras FTZ takes the lead ahead, congratulations.

Food process

Food process

A modern yarn factory

Perfume factory

SPECIAL REPORTS FEMOZAFédération Mondiale des Zones Franches



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-201

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In the City there is an Import Centre, as a duty free Mall, where people can buy imported products at reasonable prices, under special customs regulations, the centre is locate less than 500 metres from the Azerbaijan border.

The day finished with a visit to Cultural sites as St Stephan Monastery, today Tourism is part of many FDI projects, another option to attract new investments. With all this first day background, we had enough knowledge to attend with guaranties all meetings on the second day.

Visit of historical sites




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It started with an open presentation of the Aras FTZ by the CEO Mr. Arab-Baghi, concluded with President’s Torrents presentation, about the challenges of the Aras FTZ but by synergy all Iranian Free and Special Zones. After this meeting an interactive session with Iranian Free Zones Managers and a press conference with more than 20 representatives from the Local and National Media.The heritage of Iranian Free Zones started with Kish Free Zone long time ago and more recently Chabahar and Qeshm Aras FTZ and the rest of Iranian Zones are in front of a new horizon with enormous possibilities, strategic locations to succeed is only a matter of to brand the Country as a right location to invest and Free Zones as a good professional tool offered for projects implementation, we always said that Free Zones have to facilitate market requirements with guarantees.

Meeting with Iranian Free Zone Managers

Press Conference

Signature of a cooperation Agreement ARAS FTZ - FEMOZA

SPECIAL REPORTS FEMOZAFédération Mondiale des Zones Franches



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