Arvand Petrochemical to Be Inaugurated by Year-End
Forouzan, noting that construction continued despite wartime conditions, said: "Several petrochemical projects are under construction in the south, including the Arvand Free Zone." He emphasized: "The Arvand Free Zone bridge over the Arvand River was not halted even during the war, and its physical progress has reached 89 percent, marking it as a national development project." According to him, the Arvand petrochemical will be inaugurated by year-end (March 20, 2027), generating millions of dollars in annual revenue and creating employment.

Need for Tax Incentives and Legal Reform
Forouzan identified trade facilitation alongside construction as a priority, saying: "Free zones perform better in construction because budget allocation is clear, but trade facilitation proceeds slowly due to dependence on national laws and strict regulations." Recalling the 100 percent tax exemptions of the 1990s and 2000s, he said: "Given the distance of free zones from the center and infrastructure problems, success is impossible without tax incentives; removing them leads to investor exit." Forouzan called for clarity on the government's expectations, noting: "The initial vision was for these zones to be exempt from general laws to reduce bureaucracy, but administrative processes became more extensive."

Comparison with Jebel Ali and Need for Management Stability
Citing Jebel Ali's success, Forouzan said: "In 1985, the UAE invested 6 billion dollars in Jebel Ali's infrastructure, and its CEO has managed it for 41 years, but in Iran the average tenure of free zone management is no more than three years, and these constant changes damage development." He stressed that free zones are not political and that individuals with economic backgrounds should be selected, proposing that two of the five board members of each zone come from the private sector.
Infrastructure Provision and Opposition to Land Sales

Forouzan considered infrastructure provision a governmental duty essential for attracting investment, saying: "Critics say free zones have become land sales centers, but they never ask how development is possible when we lack infrastructure." Opposing land sales for financing, he said: "Lands within free zones should be allocated to national and regional development projects that create added value and wealth."

President Pursuing Rail Corridors
Noting that four free zones are connected to the sea and others lie at land borders, Forouzan identified their role in international corridors, especially rail, as a development strategy, saying: "The Chabahar-Zahedan railway has accelerated by order of the President, and its track-laying is complete." He added that the 180-kilometer Tabriz-Turkey border railway must be completed. Referring to US and Israeli aggression, he said: "We withstood the superpowers by developing the drone and missile industry domestically." He stressed: "The enemy has turned to economic siege after failing militarily, and the 14th government, despite financial constraints, has placed corridor completion on its agenda, because the future of development lies in corridors."
 

Latest Status of New Free Zones
Forouzan said all seven new free zones have been launched and have become independent. According to him, Mazandaran, Incheh Borun, and Sarakhs have established themselves faster, while Ardabil and Bileh Savar require planning. He cited the joint free zone with Turkey centered on the Razi terminal as being on the agenda and referred to Pakistan's request, which requires legal amendment. Forouzan described cooperation with neighbors as developing border security, saying: "We have two free zones with Afghanistan, Dogharoun and Sistan, and Sarakhs and Ardabil can be axes of cooperation with Turkmenistan and the Caucasus."