The meeting was attended by Mohammad Reza Dashti Ardakani, deputy minister of economic affairs and finance for parliamentary and legal affairs, representing the economy minister, and Hossein Forouzan, secretary of Iran’s High Council of Free and Special Economic Zones. 

A group of economic operators and manufacturers from the Arvand Free Zone outlined the main challenges confronting their businesses, with difficulties related to imports, foreign-currency allocation and supply, customs procedures and administrative processes emerging as key concerns.

The participants also put forward proposals aimed at streamlining government procedures and securing more effective measures to remove bottlenecks affecting production, commercial activity and exports.

Dashti Ardakani, after hearing the concerns and demands of business representatives, stressed the importance of supporting producers and economic operators. He pledged to follow up on the issues raised and convey them to the economy minister and other relevant government bodies to remove the identified obstacles. 

The meeting also underscored the need for closer coordination among government agencies and for greater use of the legal capacities available to Iran’s free zones to facilitate trade, strengthen domestic production and expand exports.

The discussions come as Iran’s free economic zones continue to be viewed by policymakers as an important instrument for expanding trade and production, particularly by reducing administrative barriers and improving access to commercial and investment opportunities.