According to the Public Relations and International Affairs of the Kish Free Zone Organization, Mohammad Nouri, during his visit to Kish Island and a meeting with managers, economic actors and the private sector, reviewed regional issues and development plans and expressed appreciation for the cooperation and companionship formed between the public and private sectors in Kish.
Nouri’s appreciation of Kabiri and the organization’s management team
The president’s aide for following up special projects, while visiting three leading knowledge-based complexes in Kish and expressing gratitude to the people of Kish and the region’s officials, especially Mohammad Kabiri and the management team of the Kish Free Zone Organization, said: extensive grounds for cooperation between the government and the people have been provided, and the cooperation and solidarity between the private sector and public sector managers in Kish is praiseworthy and a source of good and blessing for this island.
Nouri also, thanking the people of Kish, drew attention to their presence and permanence in the region during wartime and said: the active presence of the people of Kish has strengthened calm and confidence in the country, and their staying in this area is a support for the people of other provinces in standing up to the enemy.
Kish’s specific plan for eight development axes
Referring to sessions held over the past two days with the managers of the Kish Free Zone Organization, Nouri said: I was very pleased that the colleagues have a specific plan for the coming years and have identified eight axes for carrying out development actions. A special program has been considered for each of these axes. On several issues it is necessary to assist the island’s ensemble and managers so they can succeed within the framework of the determined programs.
Kish can be Iran’s first smart city
The president’s aide for following up special projects cited one of the issues raised as high-speed internet, telecommunications and the capabilities of the information and communications technology sector and said: we will coordinate so that this problem is solved.
Nouri added: it seems the ground is prepared for creating a smart city in Kish and with this created foundation one can pursue a smart city.
Pointing to the managers of Kish’s interest in moving in this direction he stressed: Kish can become Iran’s first smart city and be registered as a brand in the world.
Emphasis on greater independence for free zones
Nouri described another issue raised as the matter of taxation and said: merchants and private sector activists were present in Kish during sensitive national conditions and from the beginning of the war continued their economic activities, which deserves thanks and appreciation. They expressed grievances regarding the tax issue and this matter must be reviewed and the Kish Free Zone should be assisted.
The president’s aide for following up special projects also said: according to the Free Zones Law, managers of the zone must have a free hand so they can take necessary actions and carry out required planning.
Referring to government policies to increase local managers’ authorities he added: given that special permits have been considered for governors to act more independently, free zones should enjoy greater independence from provinces and we will help so that free zone managers continue their activities with more authority and independence.
Nouri stressed: in my view free zones should act like an independent country so that capable managers can have more authority and make decisions within the region.
Pursuing banking and financial facilities for economic actors
The president’s aide for following up special projects said another issue raised was companies active in Kish needing banking and financial facilities and added: given the created conditions and the reduction of many tourism and commercial activities in the past six months, banking and financial facilities must be provided to help economic actors.
Nouri emphasized: I will follow up the matter of banking and financial facilities.
He also reported a proposal within the government to assist Kish Free Zone trade and said: we hope this proposal will be presented to the government next week and with its approval significant help will be provided to Kish Free Zone trade.
Convergence of government and private sector in Kish; exemplary
In another part of his remarks, Nouri, referring to the meeting with economic activists and the private sector, appreciated the close connection between the public and private sectors in Kish and said: it was clear in this session that there is a close relationship between the private and public sectors.
He added: what was raised by the public sector was emphasized by the private sector as well and conversely the issues raised by the private sector were emphasized by public managers and there was no disagreement between the two sides’ viewpoints.
The president’s aide for following up special projects continued: in the special conditions the country faced, the private sector stood beside the public sector and helped eliminate crises and create calm in the region and throughout Iran.
Referring to the private sector’s role in supplying people’s needs Nouri said: providing consumer goods, fuel, food and various needs of the people in these conditions stems from the convergence of the private and public sectors.
In conclusion Nouri described the cooperation between the private sector and the government in Kish as "exemplary" and said: this intimacy created between the private and public sectors here should be recorded in these special conditions and this model should be used for other regions as well.
He once again thanked Mohammad Kabiri and the managerial body of the Kish Free Zone Organization for this mutual thinking, empathy and cooperation and considered this accompaniment a foundation for the region’s growth.