The Governor of Gilan said: Holding a meeting of governors of the Caspian Sea coastal provinces in Rasht will be a unique opportunity to introduce economic capacities and develop regional and international cooperation, especially in the North-South Corridor.
According to the Public Relations Department of the Gilan Governorate, Hadi Haghshenas, in a special interview with Sima Maksar TV tonight, emphasized the importance of holding a meeting of governors of the Caspian Sea coastal provinces and said: This meeting will help us to expand common interests between the neighboring provinces of the Caspian Sea and introduce the capacities of the North-South Corridor in a more favorable manner.
Referring to the presence of high-ranking officials of the country in this meeting, he said: In addition to the governors of the five Caspian Sea coastal countries, two governors of our country from the Persian Gulf will also be present at this meeting.
Haghshenas added: In addition to the opening and closing sessions, three specialized panels will be held with the presence of governors and experts. The summit was held in the Rasht Grand Hall, and all executive bodies, including the Rasht Municipality, governorates, Anzali Free Zone, the Cultural Heritage Directorate, the governor’s deputies, the Semat Department, the Chamber of Commerce, and the private sector, are participating in it.
The governor of Gilan stated: Holding this summit is a valuable opportunity to introduce the economic capacities of the northern provinces of the country, especially Gilan. Due to its privileged geographical location, Gilan is located on the North-South Corridor and, in addition to access to railways, roads, seas, and air routes, it has significant capabilities in the fields of agriculture and exports, including the production of more than 230,000 tons of kiwi and citrus fruits.
He also referred to Gilan’s tourism capacities and said: In a recent meeting with the Deputy Minister of Cultural Heritage, 30 domestic and foreign investors have expressed their readiness to invest in the field of tourism, and hoteliers are also seeking to develop and build new hotels. The government must provide the necessary infrastructure and remove obstacles facing investors.
In another part of his speech, Haghshenas emphasized the importance of foreign trade and the use of the capacities of the country’s northern ports, adding: “If goods are transported via Iran and from the north and south to Central Asian countries, our ports will prosper, employment will be created, and the cost of transporting goods will be reduced by one third.”
Referring to the retreat of the Caspian Sea, he also said: “From 1933 to 1977, the Caspian Sea water retreated four meters, and since 2003, the retreat process has continued again. This issue will be discussed at the summit so that the five Caspian littoral countries can reach a common solution.”
The Gilan governor also referred to the capacities of the railways, ports, and energy, adding: “The Rasht-Astara railway has a capacity to carry 15 million tons of cargo, but so far less than one million tons have been used. The development of this route can create common interests for the Caspian littoral countries.”
In conclusion, referring to the executive arrangements, Haghshenas said: “It is possible that on the days of the summit, schools will be held virtually and government employees will arrive at work two hours late, but all necessary measures will be taken to minimize the problems of urban life in Rasht, and we apologize to the people in advance.”
