In an online meeting, Secretary of Iranian Free Zones High Council Mr. Morteza Bank and Chairman of Qatar Free Zones Authority Ahmad bin Mohammed Al-Sayed exchanged views for boosting joint cooperation and investment.

During the virtual meeting, Mr. Bank emphasized that Iran is always ready for cooperation with neighboring countries and welcomes expanding ties with Qatar. He also expressed his satisfaction over deepening of ties between both states despite sanctions.

He added that Iran and Qatar, due to their major agreements like customs duty exemptions, getting double tax, supporting the mutual investment and joint economic cooperation, have provided appropriate measures for future cooperation.

Mr. Bank noted free zones in Qatar and also 8 free zones and 32 special economic zones in Iran can help effectively the continuation of cooperation between both states.

He then pointed to the launch of international stock market in the free zones of Iran which will be launched o Kish Island soon, adding that the stock market will function based on the international standards and presence of foreign investors have been predicted and soon talks for presence of domestic and foreign investors in the stock market will begin. He noted that Qatar’s stock market and free zones can cooperate with Iran’s free zones in this field.

Meanwhile, Al-Sayed, for his part, welcomed Mr. Bank’s proposal for launching a virtual window for setting up a joint workgroup between both states, adding that Iran stood beside Qatar during the cruel sanctions of other countries and Qatari people will never forget Iran’s stand.

He further pointed that Iran and Qatar have always had good political ties, expressing hope that their relations especially in the economic and investment fields would enhance.

He also said Iran’s free zones should study ways of presence of Iranian companies and investors in Qatar’s free zone in order that the grounds for developing cooperation could be laid. He also reiterated that Qatar welcomes presence of Iranian investors especially in Qatar’s free zones.

Al-Sayed also invited Mr. Bank to pay a visit to Qatar’s free zones. Touching upon international stock market on Kish Island, he said he is willing to know more about the international stock market on Kish Island in order to convey information to the Qatar government.

He also stated that the proposal for setting up a technical and expertise workgroup for studying different grounds for economic cooperation in attracting investment and services in the free zones is a good idea.

Al-Sayed added that the workgroup can be effective for exchange of bilateral experiences.

Creation of the offshore bank, setting up joint investment fund for monetary and banking cooperation, cooperation in the joint investments in different sectors like tourism, hoteliering, fishery, agriculture, and oil and petrochemical fields were the other issues which were discussed in this virtual meeting.