Chabahar, Bishkek FTZS sign MOU
The free trade zones of Iran’s Chabahar and Kyrgyzstan’s Bishkek signed a memorandum of understanding on Monday to expand cooperation.
Based on the MOU, the two sides are committed to expanding ties in transit, transportation, logistics and tourism arenas, IRNA reported.
The MOU was signed during the second international conference on introducing investment opportunities and sustainable development in Makran coast, the coastal strip of Makran in southeastern Iran.
The two-day event, inaugurated in Tehran on Sunday, was attended by military officials, 120 foreign guests, 30 ambassadors and scores of experts and economic managers.
On Sunday, First Vice President Es’haq Jahangiri called on domestic and foreign investors to participate in development plans in the coastal strip of Makran, promising full state support.
Speaking at the second international conference on introducing investment opportunities and sustainable development in Makran coast, Jahangiri said Makran is a key strategic area for Iran, adding that developing the coast could solve many challenges facing the country, including unemployment.
It could also bring about regional justice and empower the locals, he added.
Jahangiri noted that the Makran plan envisages one million residents, noting that industry, oil and gas fields can be further developed in this area.
The VP pointed to the agreement between Iran, India and Afghanistan on Chabahar which has been described as a game changer for regional connectivity, creating a regional trade, investment and transportation hub linking the Indian Ocean to Central Asia.
Another major plan currently underway, according to Jahangiri, is transferring a part of Iran’s oil exports from the Persian Gulf to the Sea of Oman in Jask, Hormuzgan Province.
According to Defense Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami, the conference on investment opportunities and sustainable development in Makran Coast is “a great chance for domestic and foreign private sector investors to become familiar with the unique opportunities in petroleum and gas, transit and transportation, tourism and the development of new urban areas”.