Iran's effort to create a common free economic zone with Afghanistan

Afghan Voice Agency (AVA) - Aras: Hojatullah Abdul Maleki, the secretary of the Supreme Council of Free Zones of Iran, who was talking to an Ava reporter on the sidelines of the world celebration of the registration of Aras Geopark in UNESCO as the third international geopark of Iran, answered a question. He answered about the development of economic relations between Afghanistan and Iran, especially with the free zones of this country, especially the Chabahar Free Zone.
 
Regarding Chabahar port and free zone, he said: Chabahar is one of the most valuable free zones of Iran, which has an ocean port, and we are developing cooperation with our eastern neighbors in this area.
 
Referring to the recent trip of the Acting Minister of Trade of Afghanistan to Iran and visiting Chabahar Port, Abdul Maliki emphasized: We are looking to create a common free zone with Afghanistan and in this regard we have announced to Afghanistan that we are ready to visit the sites they want.
 
He pointed out that Chabahar will be in charge of communication with Afghanistan's free zones, therefore, Chabahar Free Zone is ready both to transport Afghan goods and to develop cooperation between Iran's and Afghanistan's free zones, and this is our definitive policy for developing cooperation with Afghanistan.
 
Nooruddin Azizi, Acting Minister of Industry and Trade of the Islamic Emirate, visited Chabahar Port and its capacities while continuing his trip to Iran.
 
During this trip, Nooruddin Azizi visited the infrastructure, unloading and loading facilities, commercial capacities, tourism and different parts of the Azad Zone and Chabahar Port, and in a meeting with the officials of Iran's Sistan and Baluchistan Province, investment opportunities, exchange of goods and development of economic relations checked bilaterally.
 
In this case, the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Islamic Emirate of 24 Hout wrote on its Twitter account that Azizi had a discussion with Iranian officials about the speed of transporting goods of Afghan merchants through Chabahar port. He considered the use of Chabahar port to be effective in reducing costs and providing facilities in the trade sector.
 
This is despite the fact that according to the local officials of Iran, Chabahar port is considered to be the most economical and closest route for the transit of Afghan goods; Therefore, it is necessary to increase the investment of Afghanistan's private sector in Chabahar Port and Free Zone.
 
According to Qasim Askari, Director General of Chabahar Port, due to the discounts considered, Chabahar is considered the cheapest and most economical port among the ports of the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea for transit and export of goods, and this is an opportunity for Afghan businessmen to be more present. It is a strategic port.
 
He added: Special incentives have been considered for the operation of Chabahar port with 8.5 million tons of unloading and loading capacity so that this area becomes one of the important commercial and economic hubs.
 
Among the incentives considered by Askari, 80% discount for fees and charges incurred on ships, 80% on the cost of stopping on ships, 60% on guidance, towing and dredging costs on ships, 85% discount on warehousing. Export and foreign transit containers and 75% discount for empty container storage.
 
He continued: In addition to the discounts of the Ports Organization, we are witnessing free zone exemptions such as tax and customs exemptions, which this year can lead to a new season of prosperity and development and welcoming investors.
 
Askari Nesab said: Chabahar port has a good location for transportation, transit and transhipment (sea transportation) of goods and is the best and least expensive transit route to the countries of Central Asia and Afghanistan.
 
During the past years, due to Pakistan's strict policies regarding the trade and transit of goods of Afghan traders, the Chabahar ocean port in Iran, as the only opening of hope for Afghanistan's trade and transit for easy access to the world's open waters and export and import.
 
The creation of a common free trade zone between two countries, according to the rules, facilities and characteristics of free trade zones, can further develop the economic and trade relations between the two countries.