The current Iranian calendar year 1390 (March 2011 – March 2012) was named by the Supreme Leader of the Revolution the year of "Economic Jihad" to enable each economic sector of the country to offer generously whatever in their possession to reach such a target.
For the Muslim Iranians jihad has always been important either in the economic front or in the war front and each activity is a sacred jihad. In line with this, Arvand Free Zone was host to senior diplomats of 50 countries from Asia, Europe, America and Africa such as Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Austria, Ghana, Uganda, Tunisia, Zimbabwe, Ivory Coast, Tajikistan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Palestine, Syria and India from April 28 to30.
The participating ambassadors most of whom visited the area together with their families, during their three day stay became closely acquainted with trade, industrial, historical and tourism attractions of the Arvand Free Zone (Abadan and Khorramshahr) as well as Khuzestan Province.
Ambassadors hail industrial, scientific achievements
The main aim of the visit was to introduce capabilities and opportunities for investment in Khuzestan and Arvand Free Zone. On this basis, in separate visits the 50 ambassadors inspected the port of Khorramshahr, Abadan oil refinery and steel industries in Ahvaz.
Perhaps prior to their visit most of the ambassadors traveling to the region had thought that they would be faced with a small and not so much advanced complexes whereas after arriving in the gasoline control room at the Abadan refinery they were surprised by what they were seeing and applauded that much progress and development.
Building South Pars phases in port of Khorramshahr
One of the sections inspected by the ambassadors in Arvand Free Zone was the port of Khorramshahr. The port, with five operational terminals (vehicles, public, container, oil and passenger goods), occupies an areas of 230 hectares and with 20 active docks, is the largest container port of the country. The ambassadors during their visit to Khorramshahr port, closely inspected construction of oil platforms special for Pars Special Economic Energy Zone at the port. Following construction of phases 12, 17 and 18 at South Pars construction of phases 19, 20 and 21 has started and the country's largest crane with a capacity of 1500 tons has been established at this port.
Production of the world's best and cleanest gasoline at Abadan refinery
The visit to Abadan oil refinery, especially its gasoline control room, was another part of the three-day jouney of the ambassadors to Arvand Free Zone which greatly surprised them.
Also it was during this visit that increase in the volume of production of gasoline at the refinery was announced and the ambassadors were informed that thanks to the endeavors of the Iranian specialists, gasoline production has been increased by 6000 liters from 9000 liters to 15000 liters per day.
The ambassadors also visited three other phases of Abadan oil refinery and were closely familiarized with the activities of these sections which were running under the control of Iranian experts.
Among obvious characteristics of phase three of gasoline production at Abadan refinery one was application of the latest technologies of the world in harmony with the environment as a result of which the world's best gasoline the basis of which are paraffin isoms known as clean gasoline is produced in this part of Abadan refinery.
Phase three for production of gasoline at Abadan refinery has become operational by using the latest technologies its and different parts such as cat cracker is under the license of GOP but has been designed by Iranian specialists and its isomerization part is unique in Iran.
Sacred Defense Museum, a living document of resistance
The day when the Iraqis after 35 days of resistance by the brave men of Khorramshahr occupied the city, they chose the former headquarters of the British Petroleum and building of the National Iranian Oil Company as their head office. They wrote on the walls: "We have come to stay" but they were unaware that these words were their dreams which would not come true ever.
Today, these words have been put on display in the Sacred Defense Museum as a document on the legitimacy of the Iranian nation to let all know that Iranians would not allow even an inch of their soil remain in the hands of the enemy.
The Sacred Defense Museum was one of the important parts of the trip of the ambassadors to Arvand Free Zone which was greatly welcomed by the diplomats.
While visiting different parts of the museum, including personal belongings of martyred commanders, war supplies, war remembrance of the martyrs ... they watched films on the Holy Defense as well.
Arvand Free Zone investment opportunities in a meeting with ambassadors
Although ambassadors from 50 countries of the world's largest continents were guests of Arvand Free Zone, they not only became acquainted with investment opportunities in that free zone, but in a specialized meeting gathered information about all capabilities in Khuzestan Province.
Ali Asghar Parhizgar, Managing Director of Arvand Free Zone Organization, in an address to the audience referred to Arvand River, Karoon and the Persian Gulf as historical evidences of their key role in most events in Iran. He termed Arvand Free Zone as one of the gates of the country from economic, cultural and political points of view which enjoys a special status in the region and among neighboring countries which with a span of 17 thousand hectares of land has provided an appropriate opportunity for investment.
The chairman of the board of directors of Arvand Free Zone Organization termed the zone an area which by taking advantage of the following has been able to sign cooperation contracts with some reputable banks in the region and the world as well as with the investors:
· Recreation and trade jetties of Khorramshahr and Abadan ports,
· Equipped with industrial townships of Abadan and Khorramshahr as well as four air, maritime, road and rail transit axes,
· Development of railroad and international Abadan Airport,
· Employment of specialized and committed local personnel,
· Offering special facilities to investors,
· Tax exemption,
· Support for emerging industries
Export of $1bn in non-oil goods to Iraq via Shalamcheh
Parhizgar put the figure for the last year in non-oil exports from Arvand Free Zone to Iraq at $600 million and pointed to new plans for boosting export of non-oil goods from Shalamcheh to Iraq to $1bn. Meanwhile, given that every foreign investor would have to first collect the required information from the relevant embassies for presence in Iran, in this session 250 investment opportunities were put at the disposal of the diplomats in the form of CDs, booklets, and brochures which was highly welcomed by the visiting diplomats. Also, following the request made by the ambassadors, Arvand Free Zone announced readiness to organize a special exhibition in other countries. Simultaneously with the promotion of non-oil exports, Arvand Free Zone hopes that by making the largest tourism complex in southern part of the country in the Arvand Minor, it could transform the region as well.
Export of 20% in local commodities from Khuzestan
Governor General of Khuzestan Province, Seyed Jaafar Hejazi, who also addressed the visiting ambassadors, Majlis representatives and economic activists at Arvand Free Zone, said 20% of the country’s goods were exported from Khuzestan.
Stressing that although not a long time has passed since the Iraqi war (1980-88), the official said social, economic and physical reconstruction have been accomplished at a good speed. He announced an investment of about $4bn by government sources and $2bn by companies and the private sector had been made in Khuzestan.
The governor general described Khuzestan as the largest oil exporter in the country which has the final say in the trade economy of the country but still has not reached its final target and is in the direction of development.
He said some 70% of the martyrs of the Sacred Defense (Iraqi war) belonged to Khuzestan Province and the wealth of the province not only was not confined to oil, gas and even its water and soil but included its history, civilization, culture and sustainable security which has turned the province into a golden gate for the presence of investors and those interested in culture, art, history, science and investment in different sections.
Meanwhile, spokesman of Majlis Economic Commission, Ali Mousavi Jarf, who also addressed the meeting with the group of 50 ambassadors, stressed on the readiness of Khuzestan Province to attract any type of investment.
He said Abadan and Khorramshahr, being equipped with basic infrastructures in trade, industry, agriculture and production, four trade regions, international airport, railway, connection routes to other cities, shipping lines, oil and its subsets enjoy the most proper conditions for investment in all industrial and commercial areas.
The Abadan representative pointed to 50 thousand hectares of good quality palm trees in the world, 50 hectares of farms for culture of shrimps, location between two navigable fresh water rivers and the like, as significant privileges of Khuzestan for the presence of investors.
Mideast's largest grain terminal to be constructed at Imam Khomeini Port
Construction of the Middle East's largest grain terminal with $307 million investment by the private sectors of Iran and Kenya at Imam Khomeini port, and building of the first phase of the logistic terminal of Khorramshar at Arvand Free Zone with an initial capital of $10 million were among news Hadi Karimi, Deputy Managing Director of Kaveh Logistics Company announced in the meeting with the ambassadors and local officials of Khuzestan.
He referred to Iran’s northern neighbors such as Russia and the Central Asian countries, the world's major grain producers and southern neighbors like Iraq as well as South East Asian countries as consumers of grains and Iran as the best and most economical route for transfer of such commodities.
Karimi pointed to the importance of food in coming years and said countries are prospective and successful that would look towards future in terms of production and processing of foodstuff and announced readiness for attracting investment in this regard.
Meanwhile, Salah Zawawi, the Palestinian ambassador and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, in remarks to the participants praised resistance of the people of Khuzestan, especially Abadan and Khorramshahr in the Sacred Defense and said the people of the province which set a good example of resistance against violation paid a heavy cost for defending their country and finally achieved victory.
The Palestinian ambassador pointed out his 30 years of experience in living in Iran and remembered Imam Khomeini while inspecting the Sacred Defense Museum in Khorramshahr and said the museum displayed good works of the resistance of the people of Khuzestan.
The dean of the diplomatic corps said one of the aspirations of Imam Khomeini and people of Iran is the development of the Holy Land (Jerusalem) and holding prayers in the desired capital of the Palestinians. He called on the participant ambassadors to ask their governments to vote for the establishment of an independent Palestinian government in the next U.N. session this September.
Meeting history in Khuzestan
Visiting the Armenian Church in Abadan adjacent to a mosque, the historical house of Mostowfi, waterfalls and universal legacies of Shushtar mills and Choghazanbil on Haft Tappeh were among other programs of the ambassadors to Arvand Free Zone which was greatly welcomed by the diplomats to such an extent that after the visits they admitted what they had seen was like dreams and walking in the region resembled as walking in history.