The director of investments at Payam Special Economic Zone near Tehran has said he is hopeful that within the next 3 years, half of all manufacturing , export, and economic activities in information and communications technology (ICT ) will take place within the Payam Special Economic Zone.

In an exclusive interview with Iran Press on Saturday, Mohammad Reza Vaezpour, the head of investment at  Payam Special Economic  Zone said  3600 hectares of land have been set aside for the special economic zone , which hopes to become an import / export hub for this  region soon.

Vaezpour said 25 percent of Iran's population, and the heart of Iran's economy have easy access to the Payam special economic zone , since it is geographically very close.

In further remarks, Vaezpour said:  "We are the only special economic zone set up by Iran's technology and telecommunications ministry, and since the ministry is leading the way in renovation and development of electronic communications in Iran, we have a crucial role to play in this respect."

He added:  "Last year, an initiative was undertaken to transform this special economic zone into a regional  export / import hub for electronic telecommunications. We hope that over the next 3 years, 50 percent of all manufacturing, production, export, and economic activities in IT / ICT  in Iran takes place in this special economic zone.

Commenting further ,  Mohammad Reza Vaezpour said:  "We are the only special economic zone with our own international airport. We are the only one. And we have the only rail-air corridor within the country which will play a crucial role in attracting Information Technology (IT ), and Telecommunications companies (ICT ) to set up their businesses here."

He added:  "What all this means is that we have an excellent set-up, a prime location for businesses in IT / ICT  and e-commerce to move into this special economic zone and take advantage of what is on offer".

Commenting on an initiative to build an "international information communications technology city" , Vaezpour said:  "350 hectares of land have been set aside for an International ICT City, which will be built here.  Companies active in IT / ICT have an excellent opportunity to set up business here.  Also this entire region will benefit from 'Internet of Things' (IOT )."

In further remarks, Vaezpour said we also want to attract health tourists to this region. Plans are at hand to build a "health village" in this location, on 26 hactares of land which has been specially set aside for this purpose ".