| The Islamic Republic of Iran began to implement
the first five year economic plan aimed at the reconstruction and
economic recovery in 1989, after the end of the eight year Iraqi
imposed war. The main objective of this plan was to transform the
managed economy of the war to an open economy based on market forces
and establish and maintain relations with the world economy.
Due to the existing limitation for the application
of the market economy, concern for the side effects of such a sharp
transformation on the social wellbeing of the society it was decided
to assign some locations and establish free or special economic
zones in order to completely apply the principle of a free market
economy. This way, enough attraction incentives could be introduced
for absorbing foreign investment.
According to the legally accepted definition, the
free trade zones and special
economic zones are those parts of the Iranian territory that
are managed according to the special laws and bylaws and are excluded
from the laws of the governing motherland. These zones are excluded
from the domain of the custom authorities and enjoy the full freedom
for the in and out flow of goods and commodities. Unique geographical
locations, sufficiently developed infrastructure and the foreign
investment incentives have provided ample opportunity for internal
as well as foreign investment in the zones.
The Iranian Parliament approved the Free Zones Act
in September of 1993. According to this act, Kish
Island, Qeshm Island
and the Port of Chabahar
were declared as the Free Zones of Iran. The council of ministers
later adapted the bylaws of the free zones. These bylaws have defined
and set out all regulations pertaining to import, export, investment,
insurance, banking, labour, and employment of these zones.
In 2003, The Law on the establishment of three more Free Trade - Industrial- Zones was passed by the Iranian Parliament. Those Zones are respectively " Arvand Free Zone " located between Abadan and Khorramshahr seaports, " Aras Free Zone " located in the far north west of Iran and " Anzali Free Zone " located on the Caspian Sea .
The newly established Free Zones are administered by the same Law and Regulations as the other Free Zones
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