Iran proposes joint industrial zone with Armenia near border

Iran has proposed establishing a joint economic zone near the Iranian-Armenian border to develop joint manufacturing projects, according to the executive director of the Aras Free Economic Zone, Hadi Moghaddamzadeh.

Moghaddamzadeh said he presented the proposal during a conversation with one of Armenia’s deputy economy ministers, Sputnik Armenia reports.

“This free zone could be located in Meghri, or here with us in Aras, or in Nurduz [a settlement in Iran near the border crossing of the same name with Armenia — ed.]. It is not particularly important where exactly it is located — what matters is the result,” Moghaddamzadeh added.

He described the project as important because the Meghri Free Economic Zone in Armenia, although opened nearly 10 years ago, is de facto barely operational.

Moghaddamzadeh also noted that trade and economic cooperation between Armenia and Iran remains less active than their political relations.

By Jeyhun Aghazada