Karimi & Associates Law Firm and Smart Invest Iran Joint Newsletter for November 2017 is published.
Mokran Coasts
The coasts of Mokran, Makran or Makuran – as it is pronounced by the local people – is a region located in Iran’s southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan and Pakistan’s southwestern Baluchistan province. It is a 600-mi (1,000-km) stretch along the Gulf of Oman from Raˈs (cape) al-Kūh, Iran (west of Jask), to Lasbela District, Pakistan (near Karāchi).
Coasts of Mokran are considered one of the most important and most Strategic Region in the Middle East and Central Asia. Despite the potential and abundant of natural resources and strategic location, sadly, so far, the development of the region remains neglected.
Given the Mokran coasts importance for Iran’s economy, in recent years, Iran begun vast planning to exploit the potential of this area. In this regard, many studies have been done and significant investments have been made.
With lifting of economic sanction, Iran eyes foreign investment to accelerate development of this strategic area.
Strategic Location
There are many reasons that Mokran coasts are referred as Iran’s most strategic area.
• Proximity and gateway to the International waters around southern border and Indian ocean
• Direct neighbors to Pakistan & Afghanistan
• Closest and safest route to Central Asia
• Access to market of 300 million consumers.
• Connecting CIS countries to trans-boundary waters (via under construction Chabahar-Zahedan-Mashhad railway)
• Located on route of two international transport corridors. (North-south transport corridor and south Asia transport corridor).
Other Advantages
Beside abovementioned locational Advantages, there are many other advantages and potentials that made this area unique and attractive for investors.
Vast sea and natural attractions, pristine beaches and cultural diversity can be driving force for tourism development in this area.
With more than 300 km water border, Diversity of fish species, hot and humid weather due to its proximity to equator, appropriate water quality and free of industrial pollution in the coastal area and good depth of water at a minimum distance from the beach, turned this area to a perfect location for aquaculture and related industries development.
Also existence of oil and gas resources, provide significant capacity for development of gas, oil, petrochemical and other downstream industries in Mokran coasts. These potentials have led to development of Iran’s third petrochemical hub in Chabahar.
Chabahar free economic zone plays a key role in attracting foreign and local investment and ultimately development of Mokran coasts. Chabahar free zone with area of 14,000 Hectare is one of the 7 Iran’s free economic zones.
You can download the Comprehensive Report on Mokran shores Investment Opportunities at: http://smartinvestiran.com/news/report/47
Importance of Mokran Coasts
Mokran Coasts is so Significant for Iran that, it’s mentioned in Iran 6th development plan as core issue and development priority.
Also in recent years, it has been mentioned in Iranian policy makers and officials’ speeches many times.
For instance, Iran supreme leader has insisted numerous times on developing Mokran as expeditiously as possible.The secretariat of Mokran development organization, with the support of related ministries, organizations and entities responsible for Mokran’s development programs, held the 1st international convention for presenting Mokran investment opportunities in January 2017 in Chabahar, Iran. Many high-ranking political officials including, vice president of Iran Eshaq Jahangiri, minister of defense Hossein Dehghan and Minister of Roads and Urban Development Abbas Akhondi attended the summit.
“This huge and long, very sensitive coast that we have in the Oman Sea is in fact a treasure, and we must accept that we have not discovered this. The Oman Sea, the Oman Sea Coast (Mokran coasts) and the presence in the Oman Sea are a treasure; a reserve. We paid all our attention to Persian Gulf, we realized that the Persian Gulf is very sensitive, I have no doubt, but we did not pay attention to this huge giant that we have in the Oman Sea. The Oman Sea is the key to defining the fate of the Persian Gulf.”
-Ayatollah Khamenei- Iran’s supreme leader
“Developing eastern parts of the country and Mokran coast has been, and is, one of the key priorities of the government”
-Hassan Rouhani- Iran’s President
MAIN DEVELOPMENT FIELDS
• Goods transits through North-South and East-West Corridors
• Oil and Gas fields’ development
• Modern habitation extension
• Regional and international trade of science and technology
• Fisheries, agriculture, and food industry development
• Industrial and commercial infrastructure development
• Cultural exchanges and tourism and handicrafts development
• Stable provision of Water and Electricity
• Health and medical education promotion
• Investment security promotion and International economical cooperation development
or Mokran Summit in Tehran. Jan. 2018 or
2018 (Mokran) annual Summit like this:
2nd international summit on presenting investment opportunities & Sustainable development in Mokran Shores will be held in Tehran,22-24 Jan. 2018. You can find more information about on the official website at: mokrandevelopment.com