The Aras region has long had an important place in world trade and has always been of interest to traders and travelers in Asia-Europe and the Silk Road. In addition to the importance of this region in trade and transit, the natural and geographical features of the region have also increased its capacities. In this regard, Aras Free Trade-Industrial Zone started operating in 2005, with an initial area of 9700 hectares. The area of this Free Trade-industrial Zone was expanded in 2008 and reached 51,000 hectares.
Aras Free Trade-Industrial Zone, which covers parts of Jolfa and Khodaafarin cities, is located in 4 separate geographical areas, in the northwest of Iran and at the zero point of the border with Armenia, Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. Aras Free Trade-Industrial Zone is one of the significant tourist destinations due to its natural resources and resources, favorable climate and weather, mineral water springs and numerous historical and cultural attractions. This Zone also holds significant capacities for agricultural and industrial activities.
The most important goals of the Zone include the expansion of trade and commercial services, the development of the transportation industry, agriculture and animal husbandry, clean industries and medical and extra-medical facilities, and tourism activities.
Exclusive advantages of Aras Free Trade-Industrial Zone
- Proximity to the consumer markets of CIS countries with a population of 400 million people,
- Access to Tabriz International Airport,
- Rail network connection to the mainland cross-national railway and the former Soviet national railway,
- Extensive freight transport infrastructure (road, rail and air)
- Rich water resources (Aras river as well as Aras, Khodaafarin, Golfaraj and Gardian dams),
- Diverse tourism capacities in the fields of history, culture, nature and health,
- Attracting more than 5 million tourists a year,
-Ready infrastructure in the sectors of energy, telecommunications, warehousing and etc.
- Easy access to the mainland consumer market and full coverage of the 10 million-strong consumer market in northwestern Iran
- Extensive agricultural plains and temperate mountainous climate,
- Access to industrial towns and clean industries.