Qeshm Island to be Revived by Sports Tourism

Tehran, 12 October 2005 (CHN) -- Qeshm Island will be introduced as the location for all pilot projects of sports tourism of Iran.

“Following the initial agreements with the Qeshm Free Zone, this island will be introduced as the pilot location for sports tourism of Iran,” Kourosh Mojtabavi, CEO of the national institute of Aftab-e Olympic told CHN correspondent.

According to him, the agreement will soon become operative to establish a sport center with potentials for attracting tourists.

In this regard, Farshad Tejari, director of the economy sector of Qeshm Free Zone, explained that the project of turning the island into sports tourism pilot location follows an agreement about developing sports tourism between Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization of Iran and the National Committee of Olympic.

According to Tejari, free zones have the necessary qualities to provide facilities to investors, a potential that should be considered by the private investing sector, National Committee of Olympic, and the Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization of Iran to speed up the idea of sports tourism.

If the pilot projects of sports tourism carried out in Qeshm are successful, they will be launched in other parts of the country as well.

Ras Al Khaimah will launch fast ferry service to Iran

Ras Al Khaimah Port will open a multi-million dirham passenger terminal and launch twice daily fast ferry services between RAK and Iran's Kish and Qeshm islands this month.

Future plans include a passenger and cargo service to Bandar Abbas, and a five-star motel to accommodate passengers, said officials.
The port has taken delivery of two high-speed passenger ferries built in China at a total cost of $600,000, each with a capacity of 38 passengers.
The price of a return ticket has not been finalised but could be about Dh250, said Majid Al Zaabi, chief engineer, RAK Passenger Terminal.
The growth in tourism and trade prompted the emirate to invest in the passenger terminal and services, he said.
The fast boats Jelfar 1 and Jelfar 2 have air-conditioned cabins, luxury seats, large screen television, refreshment counter and a cafeteria, he said.
The fully aluminium constructed boats are powered by 2X400 HP engines and are capable of making the trip from RAK and Iran in under two hours, said Al Zaabi.
The ferry service is being marketed at the Ship and Port Arabia 2005 show in which RAK Port has a stand with Al Jazeera Port and Mina Saqr Port.
Ship and Port Arabia 2005 exhibition was opened at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre yesterday by Ahmad Butti Ahmad, director-general of Dubai Customs.
It is showcasing ship building, shipyards, ports, logistics, engineering and next-generation marine technology.
Al Zaabi said nationals and others holding a UAE residence visa do not need a visa to take the ferry to Kish and Qeshm.

Persian Gulf biotech center, a global ref. point

LONDON, August 29 (IranMania) - The Qeshm-based Persian Gulf Biotechnology Research Center (PGBRC) is the second producer of tropical edible mushrooms in the world, says acting director of the center Reza Ranjbar. An Indian company tops the table, according to MNA.
The certain types of mushrooms that we produce cannot be planted in cold regions,? he stated. These mushrooms are cultivated in date palm groves. ?We produce yellow, white, pink and navy blue edible mushrooms,? he implied. According to the center?s official website (www.pgbrc.com), the Center for Biotechnological Research of the Persian Gulf is the first center for applied research in marine biotechnology in the country, and provides facilities for training, research and the production of various required products according to the potentials of the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman.
Iran was the second country to start production of these crops.
The PGBRC is seeking for introducing its own trademark mushrooms after standardizing the special production process.?
Cultivation of edible mushrooms on agricultural wastes, e.g. date palm wastes, is now regarded as a highly economical project in many countries, Ranjbar included. Tropical edible mushrooms are a very good source of protein, calcium, amino acids and vitamins.

China to construct shipbuilding yard in Qeshm

TEHRAN, Sept. 21 (MNA) — China has expressed its strong interest in having a widespread presence in investment projects in Iran, of which, a shipbuilding complex contract in Qeshm Free Trade Zone (QFTZ) will soon reach the final agreement, a member of ICCIM’s (Iran’s Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Mines) Board of Directors Daneshmand announced on Wednesday.
The Chinese, in general, follow the policy of investing in an economic climate of cheap energy and skilled workforce in mineral and mining sectors of countries like Iran. However, it is to Iran’s benefit not to set its eyes on money gained from such investments; acquiring modern know-how and management system are primary preconditions to establish infrastructure that would lend itself to profit making in the long run eventually, Daneshmand emphasized.
The construction of this multibillion dollar complex in addition to existing Sadra and Persian Gulf shipbuilding companies would offer Iran the opportunity to import modern technology at almost no cost, he concluded.

Iran Qeshm means 2nd Hong Kong to foreigners

LONDON, September 5 (IranMania) - Qeshm will be linked to the nation?s satellite network in less than two years at the cost of 10 bln rials, Fakhreddin Anvar, the general director of Qeshm Free Trade Zone Organization (QFTZO) said in a joint news briefing with the head of Iran?s Topography Organization, according to MAN.
The project will turn Qeshm into a smart island in terms of better site selection of the projects, specially for construction of the Persian Gulf bridge plan. As in hydrography, any plan at sea requires data. This plays significant role in future plans and the path toward a smart Iran will begin from Qeshm.
Anvar further maintained that Iran is ready to cooperate with any country on construction of the bridge, and even the Americans may have a presence in this project. There is no problem as to working with foreigners and financing, he added.
Delay in construction of Kaveh Dock takes $6b worth of exports per year away from our treasury while UAE?s ports are reaping this profit, he stated.
The existing potential for investment in Qeshm, implementation of the projects in hand, satellite connection and many other promising trade can turn this island into Iran?s gate to international trade. It is in this sense that outsiders do see these possibilities and consider Qeshm as a second Hong Kong.
Another project in hand is construction of second largest oil terminal, after Khark?s oil terminal, with a capacity of 30 mln oil barrels storage in ?Suza? area to the north of Qeshm?s central region. Some 800 hectares of land has already been mapped for this plan, and an immediate action by the Ministry of Oil could get everything going as quick as possible, Anvar urged.