TEHRAN,Iran, June 15
Trend:
Iran's parliamentary bill to establish free trade zones in Mazandaran Province needs more work, representative of Mazandaran Province in Iran's parliament Anoushirvan Mohseni Bandpey told Trend.
"Free zones are shortcuts to development but the free trade zones in Iran have not functioned properly due to weakness in management and lack of parliamentary supervision," he said.
"I do not disagree with creating free zones in Mazandaran province but it should be approached cautiously," he said.
"The volume of import via Anzali Free Zone was 11 times more than its export, that indicate the consumption has increased," he said.
Bandpey added that tax exemption in Iran was proposed to have investors come in and invest, help create jobs and boost production, but it wasn't so easy for the free zones.
"The free zone plan in Mazandaran province has yet to be approved by the Guardian Council, so that Babolsar and Amirabad would become free trade industrial zones and Nowshahr would turn into free health zone for health tourism," he said.
"Yet, there should be proper infrastructure first," said the official.
"The governor of Mazandaran has promised to help if the mentioned bill is approved by the Guardian Council. If the Noushahr Free Zone will have the necessary tourism infrastructure, the plan would be justified, and the matter can move forward," Bandpey said.
"However there is also concern over production revenues and job creation at these zones," he said.
The plan to establish free zones in Mazandaran Province was first suggested by Ahmad Hossein Zadegan, the local governor in 2018.