Iran’s Free Zones High Council announced that the trade balance of Maku Free Trade Zone, in the northwest of the country, was $5.35 million positive in the first Iranian calendar month Farvardin (March 21-April 21).The council announced that the total export of goods from the zone during Farvardin reached $7.55 million, while the value of imports from this zone was $2.2 million, indicating a positive trade balance of $5.35 million.Raw materials were the major products exported from Maku FTZ during the first month.As Iran’s largest free zone, Maku stands at the juncture between Asia and Europe and has great potential to become a hub for exporting agricultural and foodstuff products from east to west.Located in Iran’s northwestern province of West Azarbaijan, Maku is one of the seven major free zones of Iran; it has 140 kilometers of shared border with the Azerbaijan Republic and 130 kilometers of border with Turkey.Maku Free Zone is the connecting point of the East-West and North-South transit corridors and has great potential for expanding trade relations between Iran and Asian countries in one hand and with Europe on the other hand.As reported by Iran’s Free Zones High Council, the trade balance of the country's free trade zones was $41.463 million positive in Farvardin.The total export of goods and services from these zones in the first month reached $100.85 million. In contrast, the imports from the free zones, excluding machinery, were announced at $59.207 million, indicating a positive trade balance of $41.643 million.In mid-February, Iran’s Free Zones High Council Secretary Reza Masrour stated that regulatory restrictions in free trade zones have hindered their intended function in recent years.He pointed to past policies, such as the ban on vehicle imports into free zones while allowing them in mainland Iran, as an example of such constraints.However, recent government efforts have led to the removal of several limitations.He emphasized the council’s focus on enhancing the export role of free trade zones, as a significant portion of their production has historically been directed toward the domestic market, contradicting their core purpose. The new policy framework aims to steer businesses toward export-driven production.Masrour highlighted that while free trade zones are more service- and commerce-oriented, special economic zones focus primarily on production and exports.To improve export performance, new incentives have been introduced for production units engaged in exports.Additionally, the council has partnered with Iran’s Trade Promotion Organization (TPO) to establish export management companies in free zones to facilitate international trade.Masrour addressed concerns about smuggling in free zones, stating that all import processes are recorded in official systems.He also announced a shift in trade exhibition policies, stating that foreign exhibitions, which were previously held outside free zones, have been limited due to high costs. Moving forward, exhibitions will be held exclusively within free trade zones, ensuring they target relevant markets and yield better economic results. (ICE TEHERAN)

Fonte notizia: Tehran Times