Govˈt To Accomplish Resistance Economy By Boosting Ties With Neighbors

Tehran, Aug 25, IRNA – Enhancing ties with neighbors is the current administrationˈs priority to realize resistance economyˈs prospects, Secretary of the Free Zones Coordination Council Ali Akbar Torkan said on Monday. Talking to IRNA, he stressed the role of free trade zones as a bridge to connect the country to its neighbors and the world. He called Baneh, Marivan and Mehran cities along Iranˈs borders with Iraq as three regions that should turn to free trade zones in an approach towards development of ties with Iraq. He also called Jask and Bushehr as two other regions which will turn to free trade zones in near future. President Hassan Rouhaniˈs administration is considering a plan to turn all of Iranˈs Persian Gulf islands into free trade zones. It is also considering proposals to establish free trade zones in five other areas, including in the northeastern city of Sarakhs, southern city of Jask and the western cities of Mehran, Baneh and Marivan. Iran already has free trade zones in the northwestern cities of Aras and Maku, northen city of Anzali, Arvand in the southwest, Chabahar in the southeast as well as Qeshm and Kish islands in the Persian Gulf./end