According to the Public Relations and International Affairs of the Kish Free Zone Organization, Mohammad Nouri, during his presence on Kish Island and a meeting with managers, economic activists and the private sector, reviewed the region’s issues and development plans and expressed appreciation for the cooperation and solidarity formed between the public and private sectors in Kish.
Nouri’s appreciation for Kabiri and the organization’s management team
The presidential aide for following up special projects, during a visit to three leading knowledge-based complexes in Kish, thanked the people of Kish and the region’s officials, especially Mohammad Kabiri and the management team of the Kish Free Zone Organization, saying: Extensive grounds for cooperation between the government and the people have been provided, and the cooperation and empathy between the private sector and public sector managers in Kish is commendable and a source of good and blessing for the island.
Nouri also, thanking the people of Kish, drew attention to their presence and permanence in the region under wartime conditions 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 people in other provinces to stand against the enemy.
Kish’s specific plan for eight development axes
Referring to meetings held over the past two days with the managers of the Kish Free Zone Organization, Nouri said: I am very pleased that colleagues have a specific plan for the coming years and have determined eight axes for carrying out development actions. A special program has been considered for each of these axes. In some matters it is necessary to assist the island’s body and managers so that they can succeed within the framework of the defined programs.
Kish can be Iran’s first smart city
The presidential aide for following up special projects cited one of the issues raised as the matter of high-speed internet, telecommunications and the capabilities of the information and communication technology sector and said: We will coordinate in this area so that this problem is solved.
Nouri added: It seems that the grounds for creating a smart city in Kish are provided and, with this established foundation, one can pursue a smart city.
Referring to the managers’ interest in moving in this direction, he emphasized: 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 named taxation as another issue raised and said: Traders and private sector activists, in the country’s sensitive conditions and since the beginning of the war, have been present in Kish and continued their economic activities, which deserves thanks and appreciation. They had complaints regarding the tax issue and this matter should be examined and help should be provided to the Kish Free Zone.
The presidential aide for following up special projects also said: Considering the Free Zones Act, managers’ hands should be free so that they can take necessary actions and carry out required planning.
Referring to government policies to increase the powers of local managers, he added: Given that specific permissions 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 can continue their activities with more authority and independence.
Nouri stated: In my opinion, free zones should act like an independent country so that capable managers can have greater authority and make decisions within the region.
Pursuing banking and financial facilities for economic activists
The presidential aide for following up special projects named the need of companies active in Kish for banking and financial facilities as another issue raised and said: Considering the created conditions and the reduction of many tourism and commercial activities in the past six months, banking and financial facilities should be made available to help economic activists.
Nouri emphasized: I will follow up the matter of banking and financial facilities.
He also announced that there is a proposal within the government to assist trade in the Kish Free Zone and said: We hope this proposal will be presented to the government next week and, once approved, will provide significant assistance to trade in the Kish Free Zone.
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, thanked the close connection between the public and private sectors in Kish and said: It was clear in this meeting 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 topics raised by the private sector were also emphasized by public managers, and there was no disagreement between the two sides’ views.
The presidential aide for following up special projects continued: In the special conditions the country faced, the private sector stood alongside the public sector and helped eliminate crises and create calm in the region and across Iran.
Referring to the private sector’s role in meeting people’s needs, Nouri said: Supplying consumer goods, fuel, food and various needs of the people in these conditions is the result of the convergence of the private and public sectors.
In conclusion, Nouri described the cooperation between the private sector and government in Kish as “exemplary” and said: This intimacy created between the private and public sectors here should be recorded and this model should be used for other regions as well.
He once again thanked Mohammad Kabiri and the management team of the Kish Free Zone Organization for this mutual thinking, empathy and cooperation and considered this accompaniment a facilitator for the region’s growth.