Seyyed Ahsan Khandozi, while speaking at the conference on reviewing the opportunities and challenges of Mazandaran Free Zone, said that benefiting from the capabilities and taking advantage of the opportunities given by God requires examining the disadvantages, weaknesses and forces, and declared: "Unfortunately, we see today, at the political level, from the administrators and decision-makers of the country, and even informally, in the social strata, that there is no no appropriate and proportionate approach to these God-given opportunities.
Stressing that this issue must be addressed in a planned and problem-oriented manner on how to exploit the country's capabilities and geographical advantages, including the gift of the coast and sea, he said: Why not have we not been able to How to properly take advantage of these opportunities? Benefiting and moving towards the future is the main reason for holding such conferences.
Referring to the experiences of East Asian countries in establishing free zones, the Minister of Economy said: In these countries, certain areas have been highlighted and selected as free zones so that part countries' trade can be done at levels easier than the main regulations and less central. The continent's regulations remain blocked.
He added: On the other hand, free zones are considered a place for export-oriented investment.
Stating that there is still a concern over import-oriented free trade zones, Khandozi stressed: Basically, the creation of these zones should be done with the aim of capturing export markets abroad.
Stressing that the reason for the creation of free zones is that certain zones need a focal point connected to the regional and international economy, he added: But that does not mean that we consider it a separate part of the province and the rest of the areas. remain deprived of opportunities. .
The Minister of Economy stressed that the law on the administration of free zones also mentions a series of objectives for the creation of these zones, but that none of them has a central role, and declared : This situation is due to our cognitive and perceptual weakness. since the establishment and development of laws in almost 30 years. Previously this was going on in the country and these weaknesses should be studied and corrected.
Stating that free zones will not have the maze of bureaucracies and bureaucracies against production and export that make it difficult and expensive for investors to work, Khandozi said: the government should have a representative in free zones who. The Plenipotentiary Representative should be the final decision maker and there should not be multiple administrative and bureaucratic systems in these areas.
He also cited the stability and non-change of laws, announcements and regulations in free zones as one of the advantages of these zones and continued: Our regulatory system as a whole needs the support of investors and economic activists who have been observed in these areas. .
Khandozi then highlighted another part of the problems related to free zones and said: Currently, free zones in the country have taken the color of urban areas and local communities consider them unfavorable, therefore it is necessary to implement implement these regulations and monitor them. has become almost impossible for free zone governments.
The Minister of Economy said: The distinction of free zones is blurring due to the increase in controls and interference, and that is why, finding the root of it, we arrive at the problem that the correct placement n has not been done regarding the basics. of these areas.
He recalled: With these 30 years of experience in the field of free zones and today, after the first generation free zones, Mazandaran and a number of provinces have been included in the second generation free zones, it is emphasized that a detailed plan and investigation must be done first.
Khandozi said: This detailed plan must first be designed and processed obsessively, and according to him, the special advantage of this province in terms of natural resources and marine economy will be determined, this opportunity and advantage will not remain not stagnant.
Referring to the fact that something should happen in the Mazandaran Free Zone, the Minister of Economy and Finance said: Mazandaran's cross-border capital and opportunities are linked to the Eurasian complex in the northern part of the country, in looking at the president's economic policies based on diplomacy. The district shows that proper design of the Mazandaran Free Zone must be done for the benefits to match reality.
Khandozi stressed: The link of the free zone with the entire development model of the province and the country must be maintained and the local community must not question the model designed by creating duality and conflict.
Finally, he recalled, at the stage of development of the free zone program, with the good capacities that exist in Mazandaran and the capacities of the Caspian border, these advantages will turn into opportunities.
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