Free trade zones ‘gateways’ for BRICS economic integration: Iranian envoy
Iran’s representative at the 2025 BRICS summit, Esfandiar Shah-Mansouri, on Friday stressed the role of the country’s free trade zones in strengthening economic integration among BRICS members, calling these zones “economic and logistics gateways” that play a key role in boosting international corridors.
“Iran, given its unique geographic position as the crossroads of East and West, and its free trade zones with access to major CIS and Eurasian markets, has the capacity to become one of the region’s most important logistics and economic hubs,” said Shah-Mansouri, IRNA reported.
He pointed to the strategic role of the country’s southern free trade zones — such as Kish, Qeshm, Chabahar, and Arvand — in providing access to the open seas and Persian Gulf markets, and northern zones — including Anzali, Aras, and Maku — in linking Iran to Russia and the broader Eurasian market. This, he said, positions Iran as a strategic bridge between the Global North and Global South.
“The rail network connecting these zones offers the fastest and most cost-effective route for moving goods between northern and southern countries,” he added.
Shah-Mansouri, who also serves as the deputy for Economic Development and Investment at the Secretariat of the Supreme Council of Free and Special Economic Zones, listed Iran’s proposals for expanding cooperation with BRICS, including developing joint transport corridors, establishing shared free trade zones, investing in energy projects, bunkering, fostering knowledge-based industries and innovation centers, as well as partnerships in medical tourism and facilitating financial and banking exchanges.