Chabahar Free Trade-Industrial Zone

Chabahar Free Trade–Industrial Zone (CFZ) (Persian: منطقه آزاد تجاری صنعتی چابهار ‎‎) is an Iranian free trade zone formed according to the law on the establishment and administration of free trade–industrial zones .

Chabahar free trade–industrial zone was established in 1992 along with the two other free trade zones Qeshm and Kish Island to use global expertise (mostly from South East Asia) as a tool for the development of the country, accelerating the accomplishment of infrastructure, creation of employment, and representation in global markets.

The Chabahar free trade–industrial zone achieved its importance mainly from its geographical location as the shortest and the most secure route connecting central Asian independent states (CIS) and Afghanistan to warm waters and its proximity to one of the largest oil, gas and mineral resources of the world and as the only ocean port of the country.

Main activities

Chabahar free trade-industrial zone started its activities in 1995 focusing on five major areas: transit of merchandized goods, investment attraction and related services, tourism, construction & urban development and education under the administration of public controlled Chabahar free trade-industrial zone organization.

In 2002, Chabahar free trade-industrial zone organization established five specialized subsidiary bodies with the permission of the secretariat of the high council of Iran free trade-industrial zones (In 2007 Iranian president Mahmood Ahmadinejad turned the high council of Iran free trade-industrial zone into an advisory body)[1], including four holding companies and one education center that is listed below:

1. holding company of Transit & development of trading
2. holding company of Investment and industrial development
3. holding company of Social welfare and tourism development
4. holding company of professional civil and civic development
5. International University of Chabahar

The organizational structure of the Chabahar free zone has not been stable since its establishment. In 2007, Chabahar free zone canceled some of the subsidiary bodies and turned them into sections of Chabahar free zone organization.

See also

• International rankings of Iran