Engineer Abadollah Kamkar – managing director of Salafchegan Special Economic Zone:

We'd like to do our best to be a nice host for domestic and foreign investors.

Salafchegan Special Economic Zone can be one of the most successful and important special zones in Iran, because it has special positions such as to be located in a unique place, to be considered by different authorities, and to have suitable substructures for investment etc. Salafchegan Special Economic Zone was approved by the ruling government in 1376and started to work in 1377. At present 2 phases out of four phases are exposed to cession and building. Many of authorities have called this zone "Iran economic center". To know the latest changes better, we interviewed Mr. Abadollah Kamkar:

·        Mr. Kamkar, would you please explain shortly from the beginning of the project until now?

·        As you know Salafchegan Special Economic Zone was approved by the ruling government in 1376 and started its executive affairs from 1377. The zone is located in 185 kilometers from Tehran and it is the nearest economic zone to the center of the country. One of the benefits of Salafchegan Special Economic Zone is that 65 percent of Iran's industries are near the zone and it is the closest economic zone to consumer market. This zone is located in a trade crossroad and it can establish connection between Northern and Southern provinces and even between Western and Eastern ones.

Being located in North-East highways and the Silk Road is a pretty significant quality, besides; it is situated in Qom province. Any way, this province is considered by authorities and as a result Salafchegan is being paid attention, too. We hope Salafchegan Special Economic Zone will have great effects on development of national producing and economy as it had on Qom's economy.

·        What is the current position of Salafchegan Special Economic Zone among other zones?

·        At present, we have 16 special economic zones acting in general or expertly. Salafchegan is acting in general. Also, we have 6 free zones and some special zones which have been approved.

Fortunately, the position of Salafchegan Special Economic Zone is really suitable from the viewpoint of production and goods releasing and there will be a good future. Now, producers who are acting in Salafchegan Special Economic Zone have the highest statistics from the viewpoint of number of production -as the center of free and special zones announced. We have the second rate because of the number of factories and productive units and we believe the situation is suitable.

·        What is the position of the zone from the viewpoint of substructures for investors' arrival?

·        Luckily, for this case we have a good position, too. Some parts of necessary substructures have been prepared and some are being prepared rapidly. We would like to provide appropriate conditions for new investors and their comfort. Substructures have 2 aspects:

The first one is hardware substructures provided one after one. Water transition will be done near the end of this year or the end of Farvardin 1389. Gas and electricity transition, ADSL, telephone exchanges, and other communication facilities have been done. One special case is transiting a rail way which can be special advantage. It can have a significant role in decreasing goods in ports.

The length of this rail way is 8.5 kilometers. At present, 4 kilometers are being established. The government approved it and in the case of establishing credit, it can be finished during a year.

The second one is software substructures. The most important part is regulations. Some committees are organized by order of Engineer Baghaei. They discuss regulations and software needs. They inspect if the regulations are being done correctly. We expect a promising future because of the industrial workers and traders' welcome as well as annexation of other 2000-Acre parcels to the zone in future.

·        One of the Salafchegan Special Economic Zone's goals is to attract investors. How successful were you?

·        Some successful tasks have been done so far. Now some foreign investors have done direct investment and some invested with the participation of local companies. During the last 2 months, we opened a factory with foreign investment to produce gas and oil pipes, and we also picked another foreign unit. They all show that we have a serious will to attract foreign investors.

·        How many factories and productive units are active at the moment?

·        Statistics are changeable. Any how, one productive unit can be half-done due to different reasons. At present there are 75 active factories. Of course our capacity is more. We have 600 industrial and trade units and cession ware house. Some are being produced and some are being built, some are half-done, and some are supplying investment to start their work.

·        One of the advantages of Salafchegan Special Economic Zone is its customs advantages. Would you give some explanation please?

·        There are a lot of facilities for producers, traders, and economic doers. The customs of Islamic Republic is located in the zone and is equipped with the most advanced facilities. Our main slogan and goal is doing clients' affairs as soon as possible. Our colleagues in custom house are giving good service. Fortunately, last year 128 billion Tomans were put into treasury. We got the first rank for releasing some items like automobile. Luckily, customs which is located in the zone has received ISO 9001.

·        Would you please name some important and special advantages of this zone?

·        The zone's geographical position and special regulations are the most significant advantages. The zone is located in a commercial cross road that is considerable. We do our best to be a nice host for investors. We should them so that investors and doers can fulfill their economic acts quietly and calmly.

·        How is the zone's position about province and nation's economy? How do you see the future of the zone?

·        As I said, this zone can have a role as one of the country's transit centers and it is important for job opportunities and economic changes. This zone is the closest special economy zone to 65% of country's industrials and can service as a dry port. Considering its qualities, it can provide a basic change in both province and country's economy. We believe this zone is 'Iran economic center' and has a promising future.

·        How much improvement have you had in completing the capacity and preparing the zone?

·        As you know, preparing the zone is not similar to running a factory. So we can not answer clearly. We have started phase by phase. Now the phase 1 and 2 are completed and phase 3 is being completed. We are preparing the zone for investors' arrival. We predict we can enter development lands very soon.

·        Have you successful in creating job opportunities?

·        Yes. We care about it a lot. And now 4000 people are working in the zone both directly and indirectly.

·        What recommendations would you like to have for investors?

·        We invite domestic and foreign investors as well as commercial and economic doers to use prepared and suitable opportunities. We try eagerly to service them and we do our best to be really good host for investors.