Hossein Forouzan said the region’s strategic location along the Persian Gulf, extensive coastline, access to neighboring markets and skilled workforce offered significant opportunities to attract investment, expand production and create jobs.
Speaking at a government-private sector dialogue meeting in Bushehr Province, attended by provincial Governor-General Arslan Zareh, Bushehr Free Zone Organization Managing Director Fardin Eslami-Rad, officials and business representatives, Forouzan stressed that the zone’s development would depend on coordinated management, targeted planning and the effective involvement of private-sector stakeholders.
“Developing free zones cannot be achieved without the effective participation of the private sector, coordination among government agencies and the use of the capacities of economic operators,” he said, calling for measures to facilitate investment, production, trade and employment in Bushehr.
Strategic location offers opportunities for economic growth
Forouzan described Bushehr as a longstanding center of trade, industry and maritime connectivity, noting that its geographical advantages and proximity to regional markets could help strengthen Iran’s commercial ties with neighboring countries.
The province’s potential extends across several sectors, including manufacturing, maritime industries, trade and tourism. According to Forouzan, harnessing these resources could enable Bushehr to play a greater role in national economic development and regional commerce.
He also referred to his previous experience in the province, recalling his involvement in a strategic oil-storage tank project in 2011, when he became familiar with Bushehr’s economic potential and local communities.
Provincial coordination key to removing investment barriers
Forouzan praised Governor-General Zareh for his direct involvement in addressing the challenges facing the free zone, saying the provincial administration’s hands-on approach had helped facilitate decision-making and efforts to remove obstacles to development.
He said his field visits to projects and economic facilities since the previous day had provided an opportunity to assess the region’s existing capabilities and investment prospects.
The official also commended Eslami-Rad for his work in managing the Bushehr Free Zone and stressed the importance of sustained coordination among the zone’s management, the provincial administration, government agencies and business representatives.
Private sector should play central role in policymaking
Forouzan underscored the importance of giving chambers of commerce, industrialists, investors and other business operators a central role in shaping and implementing development strategies for free zones.
He said the success of these areas depended substantially on the extent to which private-sector stakeholders participated in decision-making and development programs.
Greater institutional coordination and stronger business engagement, he added, would help create a more conducive environment for investment, expand productive activity and strengthen Bushehr’s position as a hub for trade and the maritime economy.