Sharif University to Launch Chabahar Development Studies Center

Furthermore, the university is to provide the know-how and technology necessary for the expansion of the FTZ, reported Chabahr Free Trade Zone's website.

Under the agreement, the two parties will work toward a plan for economic expansion, establish a specialized science and technology center as well as a tech corridor, promote tech firms and organize training and research courses at Chabahar International University.

One of the main parts of the agreement is the establishment of an office for Chabahar development studies at Sharif University of Technology, according to Financial Tribune.

The MoU was signed at a ceremony last week with the presence of presidential adviser Morteza Bank, Abdolrahim Kordi, head of the Supreme Council of Iran's Free Trade, Industrial and Special Economic Zones and Mahmoud Fotouhi, president of the Sharif University of Technology.

Kordi said the Sharif University has been tapped due to its success in the promotion of knowledge-based companies and startup accelerators. According to him, the university will assist officials with the FTZ with planning and strategy execution. 

He is of the opinion that to initiate dialogue with foreign investors and attract funding, the level of local technological advancement needs to be enhanced; therefore, it is of paramount importance for Chabahar to catch up with technological developments and employ specialists in the field.

Recent years have seen the southern region's efforts to establish economic ties with neighboring countries by developing its infrastructure.

In the past two years, officials have established the Chabahar Advanced Technologies Center, and are poised to create a science and technology park with the assistance of the Science Ministry.

This year they forged an agreement with the Vice Presidential Office for Science and Technology and Sistan-Baluchestan Province's governorate to set up a science and technology special zone in Chabahar.

>Mokran Shores

President Hassan Rouhani's adviser Bank also made a speech during the event, pointing to efforts made to boost Mokran shores technologically. Mokran is a semi-desert coastal strip in Pakistan and Iran, along the coast of the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.

Efforts to promote the coastal strip began two years ago when the Mokran Shores Development Organization was founded with the aim of improving the beautiful southern coast.

According to the organization's website, should the necessary infrastructure be developed, Mokran has the potential to play a significant role in the region. 

Mokran and Chabahar hold geopolitical value for foreign investors such as India.