According to the Public Relations and International Affairs of the Kish Free Zone Organization, Mohammad Kabiri in this meeting, emphasizing the necessity of synergy among managers, economic activists, media professionals and virtual space activists, said: human capital, the private sector and the Kish brand are three strategic assets of the island and Kish, relying on its valuable human capacities, the cooperation of the private sector and the trust of the people, has the ability to successfully pass through different conditions and achieve growth and prosperity. Responsibility in the Kish Free Zone Organization is a valuable trust and from the first day of being on this island, I have considered myself a member of the large Kish family and responsible toward Kish residents, economic activists, investors and the future of this region.
He, expressing gratitude for the cooperation of the people, guilds, the private sector and media activists, added: Kish residents at various times, by maintaining dynamism and continuity of their activities, have displayed a valuable manifestation of empathy, responsibility and hope for the future, and this cooperation is an important asset for continuing the island’s development and progress.
Continuity of economic activities; a manifestation of Kish’s dynamism
The CEO of the Kish Free Zone Organization, referring to the cooperation of the island’s economic activists, said: Kish’s markets, guilds and businesses by continuing their activities kept the lights of the island’s economic units on; an action that was not formed solely from an economic perspective, but was a sign of the economic activists’ attachment to Kish, social responsibility and their trust in the island’s bright future.
Kabiri stated: this cooperation and resilience must be narrated and recorded as an important part of Kish’s history and identity; because all those who have worked to preserve the flow of life, economic vitality and strengthen social hope have an effective share in protecting the island’s brand. Kish has shown at various times that whenever a suitable opportunity for activity is provided, it can, relying on its capabilities, well showcase its economic and tourism capacities.
Increase in sales of goods and services in Kish
Kabiri, referring to the island’s economic indicators, said: the amount of sales of goods and services in Kish in 1403 was about 80 thousand billion tomans and this figure in 1404 increased to about 200 thousand billion tomans, and this growth reflects the island’s extensive economic, commercial and tourism capacities.
He added: these statistics show that Kish can, by providing suitable infrastructures, create new economic opportunities and win the trust of tourists and investors more than before. The increased welcome of families to travel to Kish and the island standing alongside prominent regional tourism destinations is also the result of the joint efforts of tourism, economic, cultural, social and media activists.
The CEO of the Kish Free Zone Organization, referring to the experience of holding tourism events, said: cooperation between the Kish Free Zone Organization, the private sector and media activists in implementing festivals and various programs has played an important role in increasing tourist presence, and continuing this synergy can further strengthen Kish’s position among the region’s top tourism destinations.
Human capital, private sector and brand; the island’s strategic assets
Kabiri counted human capital, investors, private sector activists and Kish’s name and reputation among the island’s most important assets and said: managers in different periods finish their responsibilities, but Kish residents, economic activists and investors are the island’s original and permanent owners and their role in preserving and developing Kish will be lasting.
He continued: the Kish brand is also a valuable and national asset whose protection and strengthening requires the cooperation of all sectors. Any positive action in services, tourism, construction, culture, economy and information dissemination can help increase this brand’s credibility; because the name Kish is known and valuable to the people of Iran and news related to this island finds wide reflection.
The CEO of the Kish Free Zone Organization emphasized: the wide dissemination of Kish’s news indicates the national importance and position of this island, and this capacity must be used with coordination, precision and responsibility in introducing Kish’s capabilities, opportunities and achievements.
Media are the guardians of the Kish brand
Kabiri, addressing media activists, said: media are the guardians of the Kish brand and their activities can affect tourism prosperity, the economy, employment and the livelihood of the island’s residents. Professional, fair and constructive criticism also provides the ground for process correction, service quality improvement and betterment of the people’s conditions, and managers should welcome the media’s well-intentioned viewpoints.
He, emphasizing the breadth of the media’s impact, added: an increase in the number of tourists leads to the prosperity of markets, restaurants, accommodation centers, recreational complexes, transportation and other island businesses, and this positive cycle improves the economic conditions of Kish’s activists; therefore any media content about Kish can influence a family’s decision to travel, an economic actor’s decision to invest or a tourism complex’s decision to expand its activities.
An accurate and realistic narrative of Kish’s capacities
Kabiri, emphasizing the necessity of presenting a realistic image of the island, said: what is expected from the media is publishing an accurate and reality-aligned narrative; a narrative that, while stating issues and offering constructive criticism, also correctly introduces Kish’s capacities, achievements and opportunities. Correct information dissemination about the island’s tranquility, security, infrastructures, services and programs plays an important role in preserving and increasing public trust.
He added: activists who correctly reflect Kish’s realities help preserve tourists’ trust and strengthen the island’s economy and this professional approach must be supported. The public’s wide attention to Kish’s news and events is a valuable opportunity to introduce the island’s national and regional capacities and this capacity can be used to enhance the Kish brand’s status.
Continuity of flights and strengthening air access
The CEO of the Kish Free Zone Organization, referring to efforts made to preserve the island’s air access, said: with the cooperation and coordination of responsible agencies, Kish International Airport resumed its activities as the first airport in the south of the country and flight operations continued with full observance of safety and security requirements.
Kabiri added: the reopening of the airport and the establishment of flights was the result of coordination and joint efforts of various sectors and provided the groundwork for a gradual increase in tourist presence and strengthening the island’s economic activities. Continuity of flights and accurate information dissemination about the airport’s activities, tourism services and Kish’s infrastructures are important factors in preserving passengers’ and economic activists’ trust.
Planning for the summer festival’s prosperity
Kabiri, referring to the plans made for Kish’s summer festival, said: various negotiations and coordinations have been made with banks, economic groups, operators and private sector activists to provide resources, offer facilities, predict prizes and implement diverse programs.
He continued: planning in Kish must be based on hope, realism and an accurate understanding of the island’s capacities and past successful experiences have shown that with the organization, private sector, investors and media’s harmony, impactful and trend-setting events can be held.
The CEO of the Kish Free Zone Organization also emphasized using successful experiences of regional tourism destinations and added: reviewing the actions of neighboring countries and using their experiences in tourism, trade, marketing and event management can help upgrade Kish’s programs and increase the island’s competitive power.
Support for guilds and economic activists
Kabiri announced the implementation of a set of supportive programs for the island’s businesses and said: in tax, social security, banking facilities, rent and market support areas, appropriate consultations and decisions have been made and based on the coordinations carried out, necessary cooperation with economic activists in the fields of tax and social security is on the agenda until the end of Shahrivar.
He added: in addition to the facilities foreseen by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Finance, several other facility packages are also being pursued to support the market, businesses and people’s livelihoods which will be communicated after finalization. Programs are also underway to strengthen employees’ purchasing power and direct some resources to the island’s markets with the aim of increasing the vitality of economic activities.
Supportive measures in the rent domain
The CEO of the Kish Free Zone Organization, referring to the supports made in the rent domain, said: the Kish Free Zone Organization where legally possible has forgiven rent or extended contract periods and for some complexes and tourism activities the contract duration was increased according to existing conditions so that economic activists have more opportunity to continue their activities.
He added: necessary legal arrangements to support tenants of residential and commercial units have also been considered so that if needed they can use the capacity of legal approvals. The aim of these measures is to support business continuity, preserve employment and strengthen economic resilience on the island.
Facilitating goods exit and developing postal goods services
Kabiri announced serious follow-up to facilitate the exit of goods from Kish and said: a 10 million dollar license has been obtained for the exit of certain cosmetic and hygiene goods and finalizing other required capacities is in progress.
He, appreciating the support of the President’s Office, the Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance and the Customs Administration managers of the Islamic Republic of Iran, added: appropriate national-level cooperation has formed to remove barriers and facilitate Kish’s commercial activities and the results of these follow-ups will be communicated to the public and economic activists after finalization.
The CEO of the Kish Free Zone Organization considered developing postal goods services one of the important demands of Kish residents and said: implementation of this plan is being pursued seriously and we will strive, by revising procedures, reducing administrative processes and using legal capacities, to enable people and economic activists to benefit from these services.
Ministry of Economy’s support for free zones’ capacities
Kabiri, thanking the Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance for supporting free zones, said: in privatization, taxation and customs areas, important decisions have been made to preserve the legal and economic position of free zones and with legal reviews conducted, the necessity of complying with the Law on How to Administer Free Zones and preserving these zones’ legal authorities and capacities has been emphasized.
He continued: in the tax domain appropriate actions are also underway to amend and strengthen laws related to free zones and it is expected that finalizing these reforms will pave the way for increasing investment attractiveness, developing economic activities and better utilizing Kish and other free zones’ capacities.
Consultation for Kish’s bright future
The CEO of the Kish Free Zone Organization concluded, emphasizing the necessity of continuing dialogue and consultation among managers, economic activists and media professionals, saying: this meeting was an opportunity to hear viewpoints, transfer experiences and reach joint solutions to strengthen Kish’s identity and brand and the media professionals’ suggestions regarding reducing administrative processes, supporting guilds, the return of major events, continuation of children and youth programs, tourism development and strengthening social vitality will be considered by the organization.
Kabiri described media activists as the front line defending the island’s identity and brand and added: supporting the media and strengthening these activists’ motivation and vitality helps create and maintain a good atmosphere in Kish. With the empathy of the people, the private sector, investors, managers and media professionals, the path of development, prosperity and enhancement of Kish’s national and regional position will continue strongly.
The strategic meeting on protecting Kish’s identity and brand, aiming to review ways to strengthen the island’s position, identity and media image, was held with the presence of Seyyed Shahabeddin Tabatabai, member of the Government Information Council, Mohammad Kabiri, CEO of the Kish Free Zone Organization, acting heads of the Cultural, Artistic and Social Deputy, and Public Relations and International Affairs of the Organization and a number of managers and media activists.