TEHRAN By investing in Iran's free trade zones (FTZs) foreign investors not only can companies increase their presence in the country's market but they can reach a 300-million-people strong consumer market of the Central Asian countries. Mortaza Alviri, the President Advisor and Secratary of Iran's High Council for Free Trade Zones, who was talking to a French delegation made the above remork yesterday and added Iran's free trade zones are gateways to Central Asian market.

The visiting 40-member French delegation is here to review the potentials for investment in the country. Iran's railway network is among the world's cheapest and the most convenient for the foreign investors to get to Central Asia as well as other spots of the world. He said once accomplished the Bafq-Mashhad railway will axe some 600 kilometer of Iran's railways network, in terms of distance, to get access to the Central Asian countries.

Aliviri termed the existance of cheap energy and fuel as other advantages of Iran's FTZs for foreign investors adding that Iranian Parliament has provided many facilities to attract further foreign investment. According to Alviri, 15-year tax payment exemption, having permit to transfer capital and its relevant interests abroad without any limitation and exemption from entry visa for foreign investors to the country's FTZs are other facilities.

He said so far some 1,600 companies have registered their names to start activity in the country's FTZs.