According to SHADA, Hossein Forouzan opened the first session of the Free Zones Managing Directors Council at the Supreme Council’s secretariat by offering condolences on the Arbaeen mourning and commemorating National Journalists’ Day. Emphasizing the need to revise certain existing practices and procedures, he stated: "Our overarching objective must be to move toward greater transparency, ease of doing business, and the optimal utilization of free zones’ capacities."

Forouzan identified performance transparency and procedural reform as foundational pillars of the secretariat’s agenda, adding that "streamlining processes and reducing administrative bureaucracy can smooth the path for investors and economic operators."

He cited the attraction of genuine investment—leading to production growth, job creation, and regional prosperity—as the second key priority, stressing the importance of creating conducive conditions for new capital inflows into the free zones.

The Secretary further named the development and deployment of modern financial instruments as another priority, noting that "leveraging innovative financing mechanisms can accelerate development projects and strengthen the infrastructure of the free zones."

Forouzan also underscored the need to simplify and expedite the licensing process, asserting: "An economic actor should not be confronted with complex and time-consuming procedures when starting a business. Therefore, facilitating permit issuance and removing obstacles for investors must be a primary focus."

He additionally highlighted infrastructure development and the execution of construction projects as a further area of emphasis, reiterating the importance of harnessing free zones’ potential to build the necessary groundwork for investment and commercial activity.

In another segment of his address, Forouzan stressed administrative integrity, effective oversight, and improved managerial efficiency as prerequisites for advancing the free zones’ programs, calling for a shift toward goal-oriented, accountable, and results-driven management. He also underscored the observance of Islamic and ethical standards across all cultural spheres within the free zones as a major priority.

Pointing to the extensive economic capacities of the free zones, Forouzan remarked: "We must utilize these capacities to attract investment, generate added value, expand economic operations, and enhance the role of free zones in the national economy."

According to the report, transparency and procedural reform, investment attraction, financial instrument development, licensing facilitation, and infrastructure development constituted the five core axes presented by the Secretary of the Supreme Council at the first session of the Free Zones Managing Directors Council.