IKAC eyes regional investment hub status with flagship projects: CEO
Imam Khomeini Airport City (IKAC) plans to become a regional economic and investment hub through the implementation of a series of flagship development projects, its chief executive said on Monday, as the airport unveiled its new free zone vehicle license plate.
Speaking at a ceremony marking the launch of vehicle registration and the unveiling of the free zone license plate for Imam Khomeini Airport City in Tehran Province, Ramin Kashef-Azar said that beyond aviation and terminal areas, airport cities around the world also encompass logistics, tourism, free zones, infrastructure and technology.
According to IRNA, Kashef-Azar said the airport city covers an area of 14,000 hectares, of which 3,500 hectares have been designated for aviation activities.
“The first phase of the master plan focuses on pioneer hubs, with the largest share allocated to logistics,” he said. However, he added that the airport city must move toward technology and data-centric operations.
Four flagship projects
“By the end of this Iranian year (March 20, 2027), under an agreement with the vice presidency for science and technology, we will launch a technology tower and an artificial intelligence tower at the complex,” he stated. Kashef-Azar said the airport city's development strategy is centered on four main projects; an expo center, a health village, a mega mall and an international sports camp.
"With the implementation of these flagship projects, this region will become an economic and investment hub," he said.
He added that authorities are currently pursuing logistics development in the area and, if existing obstacles are resolved, construction of what he described as the country's largest mega mall terminal will begin at the complex in the coming months.
Kashef-Azar said attracting investment is one of the airport city's most important priorities, although in the short term it will focus on digital economy projects.
He also said the area's free zone status offers advantages including fewer legal restrictions, no visa requirements and the possibility of cooperation with international business partners, creating favorable conditions for innovative businesses and foreign investors. If planned measures are implemented, construction of the country's largest mega terminal at Imam Khomeini International Airport will begin in the coming months, he added, describing it as one of Iran's most important logistics projects.
According to Tasnim news agency, Hossein Ferdowsi, acting head of the secretariat of the Supreme Council of Free and Special Economic Zones, said at the ceremony that the unveiling of the airport city's free zone license plate was not merely a visual change but a symbol of an important transformation in the country's economic development, economic governance, international trade and investment attraction.
At the same event, Teymour Hosseini, head of Iran's traffic police, said the Imam Khomeini airport free zone is the 14th such zone to provide services and facilities under a new approach.
Hosseini added that mechanisms for the free zones of Baneh, Marivan, Mehran and Bushehr will be established soon.