Feasibility Study of Establishing a Fish Farming Complex Based on Aras River Advantages

Feasibility Study of Establishing a Fish Farming Complex Based on Aras River Advantages

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Abstract:

Need for healthy protein and shortage of water resources in Iran have led to multi-purpose
utilizations of water resources and fish farming industry is considered among them.

Aquatic productions are provided from two sources of fishing and aquaculture. Currently, the
major share of fish consumption is supplied by fishing and demand for fish farming products is
increasing considerably, which can cause value added and business boom.

The Ministry of Agriculture in Iran intends to introduce Aras Free Zone as an export pilot region,
taking into account the capabilities of Aras Free Zone in field of fisheries, using the experience
and state-of-the-art technologies utilized in developed countries, and thus, contributing the share
of East-Azerbaijan and the country in the field of fisheries production.

Aras Free Zone located close to Aras River and its fertile lands, is suitable for industrial farming,
creating large agro-industrial complexes with aim of export to the Caucasian countries and
capital city of Tabriz as a trade center and having industrial capacity consisting of industries
located in East of Azerbaijan for developing productions and market.

Meanwhile, the completion of shipping infrastructure creates a positive effect in developing
commercial and economic exchange with Caucasian countries.

Tourist attractions, mineral materials and huge water resources are the main natural resources in
the region. Besides 20-year tax exemption on legal and real person’s income, free inflow and
outflow of capital, tax exemption on value added and unlimited money transfer rate have made
great potentials for investment and profitable economic activities.

Jolfa-Tabriz railway, that connects Aras Free Zone with independent countries and the common
wealth of independent states, Caucasian countries, Russia, Turkey, Black sea, Europe, Persian
Gulf and Oman in the South, is one of the most important railways in Iran that has a great
influence on development of the country. Moreover, Tabriz-Jolfa railway links Jolfa, Noordooz
and Khoda Afarin with Nakhjavan, Armenia and Azerbaijan. Also Bazargan border road
interlinks Bileh Savar to European and CIS countries.

In addition, construction of Aras Free Zone airport is on the planning stage due to the 120-km
distance between Tabriz international airport to Aras Free Zone and the 35-km distance from
Nakhjavan airport to Aras Free Zone.

Due to the investment in Goordian Desert (1800 acres), Arj Gulf (25100 acres), Khoda Afarin
(more than 70,000 acres) and greenhouses (350 acres) in the last decades, production capacity of
agro products in these regions is about 70,000 tons in a year. However, Aras Free Zone enjoys
multiple transportation (roads, railways, air) and Development plans that will provide the tropical
and subtropical products of the country to the north east countries especially Russia and Europe.