According to the Public Relations and International Affairs of the Kish Free Zone Organization, a meeting of Mohammad Kabiri, CEO of the Kish Free Zone Organization, with members of the Kish market traders and merchants community, attended by a number of deputies and directors of the organization, was held.
In this meeting, members of the Kish market traders and merchants community raised their problems, plans and proposals to improve economic conditions and increase the prosperity of the island's markets. The issues raised were examined separately and the CEO of the Kish Free Zone Organization issued the necessary instructions to address some of the demands. Pursuit of some specialized requests was also delegated to relevant deputies and managements.
Kabiri, expressing gratitude for the accompaniment of market traders and private sector activists, said: Markets are among the most important drivers of Kish's economy and their continued activity, even in difficult conditions, has played an important role in maintaining the island's vitality and liveliness.
Referring to the economic pressures imposed on Kish businesses, he added: The island's economic activists have endured difficult conditions in recent months and the Kish Free Zone Organization has the duty to use all its legal and executive capacities to increase businesses' resilience.
Summer festival on the way to implementation
The CEO of the Kish Free Zone Organization announced planning to hold a summer festival and said: Increasing flights, offering purchase and travel facilities, designing attractive incentives and creating coordination among providers of credit services are among the pillars of this program.
Kabiri continued: Our goal is that with the cooperation of the private sector, the presence of tourists on the island will increase and the resources resulting from facilities and incentives will be spent directly in Kish's markets and service centers.
Referring to the impact of microloans on increasing the sale of goods and services last year, he stated: Past experience showed that offering purchase and travel facilities, if it enjoys a wide audience, can increase purchasing power and help the circulation of resources in the island's economy.
Kabiri added: Necessary negotiations to provide facilities to economic activists, Kish residents, employees and tourists have been conducted and we are trying to implement an integrated package to simultaneously support businesses and increase demand in the island's markets.
Providing facilities to economic activists
The CEO of the Kish Free Zone Organization announced the establishment of a three-day service desk of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Finance on the island and said: Economic actors can during this period apply to use the predicted facilities, including working capital and facilities related to employment and human resources.
He added: The amount of these facilities may not cover all the needs of an economic unit, but it can supply part of businesses' current costs and reduce the existing financial pressure.
Pursuing tax and social security issues
Referring to pursuing tax and social security issues of economic activists, Kabiri said: The special conditions of Kish's economy have been explained in various meetings with relevant officials and we continuously pursue facilitating processes and making it possible to accompany the island's businesses more.
He continued: In this regard, necessary coordination with relevant national and provincial bodies has been made so that economic actors' requests are reviewed within legal regulations and considering Kish's special conditions.
The CEO of the Kish Free Zone Organization said that the island's economy is directly dependent on tourism and the market, and added: A reduction in passenger arrivals has immediate and widespread effects on the sales of commercial units, activities of service sets and the livelihoods of families living on the island; therefore, Kish's conditions must be reviewed with a special perspective.
Cooperation of owners and tenants to preserve markets
Kabiri considered interaction and cooperation between owners and tenants of commercial units as effective factors in maintaining market stability and said: Reaching agreements appropriate to economic conditions, adjusting payment schedules and allowing more time for tenants can help continue the activity of economic units and increase market resilience.
He also appreciated the cooperation of some commercial unit owners in recent months and added: These cooperations have played an important role in keeping businesses operating and preventing the closure of economic units.
Reducing tariffs to support importers
The CEO of the Kish Free Zone Organization, referring to measures taken in the customs field, said: Given the increase in the exchange rate used as the basis for customs calculations, part of the organization's tariffs has been reduced so that less pressure is placed on importers and economic actors.
Kabiri added: Although tariff reductions affect the organization's revenue, in the current conditions the organization must also bear part of the economic pressure and stand alongside economic activists.
He considered the use of sailors' goods capacity a new opportunity for the island's economy and said: Effective use of this possibility can create considerable economic value for Kish's markets and its realization requires training, investment and the serious presence of private sector activists.
Facilitating sending goods from Kish
Kabiri reported continued follow-ups to facilitate sending parcels and postal consignments from Kish to the mainland and added: The goal is that market activists can send their goods to customers on the mainland through an easier process.
He emphasized: Implementing this plan can create a new capacity for non-presential sales, market development and Kish economic actors' access to customers outside the island.
Staff housing and worker accommodation
The CEO of the Kish Free Zone Organization then referred to the organization's programs in the field of staff housing and said: The housing-for-service project for teachers, health staff, service workers and some target groups is being pursued and part of its capacity will also be allocated to the employees of businesses with consultation from associations and trade communities.
He added: For worker accommodation, several plots of land and different implementation models, including long-term rental, investor participation and project execution through BOT, have been foreseen.
Kabiri asked associations and trade communities to submit their executive proposals in this regard and said: The organization's priority is that the private sector and economic associations actively participate in implementing these projects and that their benefits return to the target community.
Warning about the economic effects of false news
In another part of his remarks, the CEO of the Kish Free Zone Organization warned about the economic effects of publishing false and unconfirmed news about Kish and said: Demanding accountability and voicing problems is the right of economic activists; however, publishing untruthful information about the island's conditions can discourage tourists from traveling to Kish and cause more damage to businesses.
He added: The image formed of Kish in public opinion directly affects travelers' decisions and the markets' sales volume; therefore, publication of news should be done with care, responsibility and reference to reliable sources.
Emphasis on synergy between the organization and the private sector
At the end, the CEO of the Kish Free Zone Organization emphasized: All the organization's capacities in banking, taxation, social security, customs, tourism and housing will be used to support businesses and the proposals of economic activists will be seriously reviewed and pursued.
He noted: Restoring prosperity to Kish's markets, reviving the island's positive image and successfully holding the summer festival require the cooperation and synergy of the organization, economic activists, trade associations and service providers.
After summarizing the issues raised, this meeting ended with an emphasis on the continuation of direct communication between the Kish Free Zone Organization and the market community and on presenting progress reports of actions in subsequent sessions.