Belarus is poised to significantly deepen its economic ties with Iran, with its ambassador highlighting the strategic importance of establishing machinery assembly facilities within the Chabahar Free Trade Zone as a key national priority.
According to a report today, Dmitry Koltsov, the Belarusian ambassador to Iran, articulated during a meeting on January 4 that the free trade zone offers an ideal setting for joint investments. He emphasised that collaboration in producing and assembling agricultural machinery and industrial equipment is a key area of focus, leveraging Iran’s transport infrastructure for exports to both the Iranian market and other nations.
The ambassador’s remarks, made during discussions with the zone”s administration and Iranian trade ministry officials, were reinforced by Mohammad Saeid Arbabi, Executive Director of the Chabahar Free Trade Zone. Arbabi stated that the port acts as a crucial link between Iran and economic blocs including the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and markets across the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and East Africa.
“Chabahar can serve as a reliable route for exporting Belarusian products regionally and internationally,” Arbabi noted.
To attract such foreign partnerships, Arbabi detailed a series of significant financial incentives for investors operating within the zone. These benefits include a 20-year exemption from taxes and access to reduced customs tariffs, among other advantages.
Ambassador Koltsov affirmed that the close political relationship between Minsk and Tehran provides a solid foundation for prioritising this enhanced economic and industrial cooperation.
The Chabahar Free Trade Zone is located in Iran’s southeastern Sistan and Baluchestan Province and covers an expansive 82,000-hectare area, encompassing parts of the city, the Shahid Beheshti port, and territory near the Iran-Pakistan border.