Sevenfold Growth in Foreign Investment in Maku Free Zone; €50 Million Attracted
According to the Sedaye Sama news website, Mehdi Dastgerdi, Deputy for Investment at the Maku Free Zone Organization, announced a significant increase in foreign investment in the zone, saying: “The amount of foreign investment attracted in 1405 has reached approximately €50 million, which is about seven times higher than the previous year. This demonstrates the confidence of foreign investors in the potential of the Maku Free Zone.”
Referring to the target of achieving $30 billion in trade between Iran and Turkey, he added: “In addition to developing transportation infrastructure, training and developing specialized human resources in the fields of commerce, customs and customs clearance is a priority. Planning has begun to train at least 3,000 skilled workers at universities and educational institutions across the country.”
Pointing to the advantages of the Maku Free Zone for investors, he said: “A 20-year tax exemption, lower customs tariffs, installment-based land allocation, and access to international markets are among the most important incentives for manufacturers to invest in the zone. In recent months, we have seen very strong interest from investors.”
Production and Export Figures; Employment for 4,000 People
The Deputy for Investment at the Maku Free Zone said the zone’s active industries have created employment for approximately 4,000 people, adding: “Among the production units, 15 export-oriented industries are active in fields including petroleum derivatives, profiles, clothing, tea and coffee.”
Referring to statistics provided by Engineer Ghorbanpour, Director General of the Maku Free Zone Customs Administration, Dastgerdi said: “By the end of Tir, total exports of goods produced in the zone had reached $7 million, indicating significant growth in exports compared with the same period last year.”
Dastgerdi also referred to the expansion of re-exports in the Maku Free Zone, stating: “Raw materials are imported into the zone and, after undergoing value-added processes, including attractive and up-to-date packaging, are exported again to other countries. This has generated considerable added value for the region.”
Maku Free Zone; A Pioneer in Solar Energy Production
Referring to the country’s energy supply challenges, Dastgerdi said the zone has taken steps toward producing clean energy: “So far, approximately 26 megawatts of solar-generated electricity have been fed into the grid, and more than 150 megawatts of additional solar power plants are under construction. This demonstrates the zone’s serious determination to become a national hub for renewable energy.”
He added: “Maku Airport has been equipped as the country’s first solar-powered airport, and solar panels have been installed at industries and livestock farms in the region. We hope the Maku Free Zone can be introduced as a paradise for solar energy and a green land.”
Growth in Domestic Investment and Establishment of a Financial Exchange Center
Dastgerdi also pointed to growth in domestic investment, saying: “There are currently 165 active production units operating in the zone, and nearly 60 new investment applications have been submitted in recent months.”
Regarding foreign-currency financing, he stated: “A currency committee is formed monthly in the zone, and applications from industries are reviewed and referred to the Central Bank and the Trade Promotion Organization.”
The Deputy for Investment at the Maku Free Zone Organization further announced that establishing a financial exchange center is one of the zone’s priorities, saying: “Maku and the city of Bazargan are known as a hub for exchange offices in the country. Iranian exchange operators residing in Turkey have been invited, and productive meetings have been held to establish a financial exchange center in Maku and concentrate a significant portion of foreign-currency financing, as well as gold and coin transactions, in the region.”
Referring to a proposal to establish a gold refinery in the Maku Free Zone, Dastgerdi said: “The proposal has received a positive response, and we hope that with the cooperation of the Central Bank, this financial center will be able to handle a significant portion of the country’s financial transactions in the Maku Free Zone.”
— Mehr News Agency
