Iranian Free Trade Zones to Ease India’s Access to Northern Markets

Free trade zones in South and North of Iran can serve as the gates of entry and exit for transiting Indian cargoes destined for Eastern and Northern Europe with helpful economic expemtions and great capacities, a member of Iran-India Friendship Association Masih Mirhosseini said on Sunday.

Mirhosseini said today that free trade zones can help promote economic relationship between Iran and India.

He pointed to the salient advantage of Iranian free zones for attracting foreign investment and added, “These zones are the gateway for developing and promoting Iran’s cultural and economic relationship with other countries specially India.”

North-South Corridor is the lifeline of trade and economic relations between the two countries of Iran and India, so that this corridor can play an important role in export of Indian manufactured products to the lucrative markets of countries in Northern and Eastern Europe, he stated.

Location of Chabahar and Anzali free trade zones as entry and exit origin of North-South Corridor and legal exemptions of these zones will play a significant role in the development of ties between Iran and India, he stressed.

The two countries of Iran and India are the oldest and most influential countries of human civilizations in the course of history which played a significant role in the promotion of qualitative and quantitative level of human civilization, Mirhosseini added.

Considering the history of activity and programs that the Association have launched since its establishment in line with developing and deepening cultural, social and scientific relations between the two countries, it can be said that free zones are the first hubs for presence of Indian investors for producing and exporting their products to the domestic and regional markets, member of Iran-India Friendship Association emphasized.

Early in January, Indian Minister of State for External Affairs Vijay Kumar Singh, addressing the Iran-India Business Forum, highlighted the importance of Chabahar port for India as the gateway of trade ties of the country with the Central Asia.

Kumar Singh said that Chabahar Port is of prime significance to India, adding, “As regard to relations with Central Asia, Iran is of importance and we should consider its opportunities.”

He went on to say that Iran is not just a trade partner for India but it is a close neighbor.

“Iran and India enjoy commonalities in economic and security fields,” he added.

The relations between the two countries are not something new but the trade communities of the two countries have known each other for a long time, the Indian official underlined.