Iran's Biggest Economic Event Underway in Kish

Kish Island, November11, 2015- The Conference on Iran's Economy during Post Sanctions Era has kicked off in Kish Island.

The conference which coincides with the second edition of the international exhibition on Banking, Stock Exchange, Insurance and Privatizing in Kish island, got underway at Kish International Convention Center on November 10.

According to the Public Relations and International Affairs Department of Kish Free Zone Organization, the exhibition, which is seen as the biggest economic event in Iran, is aimed at boosting Iran's economy and attracting more foreign investment in the country.

Foreign investment in Iran, trade promotion, and capital market in Kish free zone during post-sanctions era are among the most important issues to be discussed during the two-day conference.

A number of high-ranking Iranian officials took part in the opening ceremony of the event.

Mohsen Rezaee, the Secretary of Iran's Expediency Council , Mir Ali Ashraf Abdollah Pouri Hosseini, the Director of Iran's Privatizing Organization, Akbar Torkan, the Secretary of Iran's Supreme Council of Free Trade Zones, Aminzadeh, Iran's Vice President for Legal Affairs, Ali Asghar Mounesan, Managing Director of Kish Free Zone Organization, and Ebrahim Rahimi, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Asia and Pacific Affairs were among the senior Iranian officials who partook in the conference.

Also, representatives from 210 Iranian and foreign companies also attended the opening ceremony of the conference.

Meanwhile, ambassadors from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Jordan, Vietnam, Egypt, Oman, and Kyrgyzstan, took part in the event.

Boosting economy of resistance

Dr. Mohsen Rezaee was one of the keynote lecturers of the event.

During his speech, the secretary of Iran's Expediency Council highlighted economic planning on the basis of the principles of economy of resistance and said expanding foreign investment in Iran and boosting maritime economy in the country top the agenda of Iran 6th major development plan.

He also pointed to the key role of free trade zone in promoting economy of resistance and said expansion of trade in free zones can boost the country's economy.

Economy of Resistance includes a set of general policies introduced by Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei to reinforce Iran' economy and protect it against foreign sanctions.

"In resistance economy, much emphasis has been placed on boosting the performance of the country's free trade zones in a bid to transfer modern technologies and facilitating domestic products and boosting exports, attracting foreign investment through strategic diplomacy," Dr. Rezaee said.

He also said Kish Island can play an effective role in attracting foreign investment in free trade zones and turn into Iran's economic hub.

He also pointed to the appropriate infrastructure of Kish for boosting health tourism and energy trade activities.

He expressed the hope that Kish will soon turn into the center of trade dialog and energy stock exchange market in the region.

Developing private sector

Meanwhile, Dr. PouriHosseini, the Director of Iran's Privatizing Organization described developing private sector as an effective way to contain recession.

He also described the warm welcome for the exhibition on Banking, Stock Exchange, Insurance and Privatization as yet another evidence for the capacities of the private sector for using the investment opportunities in the country and expanding ties with domestic and foreign economic activists.

Kish, a pioneering free zone

Also, the Secretary of the Supreme Council of Iran's Free Trade Zone described Kish Island as the pioneering free zone regarding boosting foreign investment in Iran.

Torkan said thanks to the unwavering support and efforts by the officials of the Kish Free Zone Organization, the free zone has been turned into a pilot to attract foreign investment in the country.

Kish, gateway to global economy

Meanwhile, Dr. Ali AsgharMounesan, the Managing Director of Kish Free Zone Organization said Kish island will soon turn into the gateway to the global economy for Iran.

He pointed to the pivotal role of free trade zones during the post-sanctions era and said these areas can operate as the most important markets for exporting commodities and technical and engineering services to the neighboring countries.

Dr. Mounesan also described post-sanctions era as a valuable opportunity for accelerating Iran's economic growth and maintaining sustainable development.

"Today, it's time for hastening the country's economic growth and securing sustainable development via long-term planning. In short term, we will witness economic prosperity following the removal of international obstacles, and releasing Iran's frozen assets," Dr. Mounesan concluded.

Boosting economic ties

Meanwhile, Ebrahim Rahimpour, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Asian and Pacific Affairs said paving the way for boosting economic ties with foreign country's top the agenda of the foreign ministry.

"We need to expand trade ties with our neighbors and under the current circumstances, there is an unprecedented interest in setting up trade ties with Iran," he said.

Rahimpour also called for comprehensive and principled planning for taking the best advantage of the upcoming opportunities during the post sanctions era.

Major economic events

Following the opening ceremony of the conference on Iran's Economy during the Post-Sanctions Era, the second edition of the international exhibition on Banking, Stock Exchange, Insurance and Privatizing in Kish island, as well as the 7th edition of the Exhibition on Introducing Iran's Investment Opportunities kicked off at Kish International Convention Center.

The Exhibitions will be underway until Thursday, November 12th.

The Conference on Iran's Economy during the Post-Sanctions Era will also be underway at Kish International Convention Center until November 12th.

The conference, which comprises seven expert-level panels is aimed at exploring investment and economic opportunities during Iran's post-sanctions era.

PR & Int'l Affairs Department- KFZO