Exports of goods from Aras Free Zone to the target countries showed 63% growth in 1390 (ended March 20, 2012) in comparison with 1389 (ended March 20, 2011).
Sadeq Najafi Head of Aras Free Zone Organization pointed to the countries of Georgia, Armenia, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan as main target countries of Aras Free Zone for exporting goods over the previous year and added: “Goods valued more than 122 million dollars has been exported from the zone which shows high exports potential of economic activists of this zone.”
He put the volume of goods exported from Aras Free Zone to the target countries on the same period at 118,000 tons in terms of weight which showed 53% growth.
He also pointed to the major goods exported from Aras Free Zone to the target countries of Georgia, Armenia, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan as follows: polyethylene products, plastic materials, oil, bitumen, various dried fruits, different chemicals, glass and glass products, metal products, vegetables and plants, cotton, sandwich panel, glassware, various industrial bitumen, date, barley flakes, industrial salt, cardboard spindle, head gas cookers.
Najafi expressed hope that existence of appropriate legal advantages and infrastructures and strategic situation will turn Aras Free Zone into the most active exports region in the northwest and even the country in the very near future.
Hereunder are regarded as the production and exports advantages of Aras Free Zone: appropriate geographical situation, nearness to the 400-million market of CIS countries, located in the 10-million population density of northwest country, located in the borders of three countries of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Nakhichevan, suitable transport infrastructures, plenty of power and gas resources, nearness to the country of Turkey as a gateway to Europe, and benefiting from God-given resources and blessings in the tourism industry.
Also, benefited from the first electric railway in Iran, as old as nearly 100 years, and 100-year customs experience is of the most important economic and communications infrastructures in this zone.
It should be noted that Aras Free Zone is located in four separate sections in northwest Iran and zero-point boundary in the vicinity of countries of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic and beside Aras Border River.