Iran Proposes Eurasian Free Zones Body to Boost Economic Cooperation
A senior Iranian foreign ministry official has proposed establishing a Eurasian free zones organization to promote economic cooperation and synergy among member states.
Mohammadreza Nazeri, director general for economic coordination at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said on Monday that free trade zones allow goods to be imported, exported or re-exported with minimal customs tariffs, while offering incentive and support frameworks for foreign investors.
He said Iran’s free zones provide five to ten years of tax exemptions, guarantees for principal and profit repatriation, and facilitation of capital inflows and outflows. The foreign ministry also operates offices in these zones to ease the entry and exit of foreign visitors, he added.
Nazeri said cooperation among free zones should be framed around technology while adapting global knowledge to local models, noting that Iran has developed its free zones based on domestic expertise. He said the zones hold significant trade, tourism and geopolitical potential and have increasingly focused on production as the main form of investment.
Referring to the Chabahar railway and the Khorramshahr–Shalamcheh rail line, Nazeri said the routes could connect Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries to the Indian Ocean and Iraq. He proposed the creation of a specialized Eurasian free zones cooperation body to strengthen member economies and improve access to open waters via Iran. - Tehran Times
27/01/2026
Iran Free Zones Seek Investment from CIS Countries
Iran’s free trade and special economic zones are ready to attract investment from countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), a senior official said on Monday.
The comments were made at a conference in Tehran aimed at expanding international exchanges and cooperation between Iran’s free zones and CIS member states, attended by ambassadors from CIS countries and chief executives of Iran’s free zones.
Reza Masrour, secretary of the Iranian Free Zones High Council, said Iran’s free zones have the capacity to host foreign investment and offer significant employment opportunities. He added that the zones are also prepared to receive tourists, citing their potential in the tourism sector.
Iran has established several free trade and special economic zones across its border regions and coastal areas, offering incentives such as tax exemptions, simplified customs procedures and eased regulations for foreign investors. The zones are intended to boost exports, attract capital and promote regional trade links.
Key free zones include Kish and Qeshm islands in the Persian Gulf, as well as Chabahar on the Gulf of Oman, which Iran has positioned as a strategic hub for trade with Central Asia, South Asia and Russia. Other zones are located along Iran’s northern borders, providing access to the Caucasus and Central Asian markets.
Officials have said closer cooperation with CIS countries could help expand transit, manufacturing and logistics activities in these zones, particularly along regional corridors linking Iran to Russia and Central Asia.
Representatives from Russia and Belarus, as well as Azerbaijan and five Central Asian countries—Turkmenistan, Armenia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan—took part in the event. - Tehran Times
27/01/2026
World Bank President Meets with Qatari Officials
His Excellency Sheikh Bandar bin Mohammed bin Saoud al-Thani, the Governor of the Qatar Central Bank and Chairman of the Qatar Investment Authority, Sunday met with Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank Group. During the meeting, they exchanged views on a range of topics of mutual interest, and discussed ways to enhance bilateral co-operation in relevant fields.
Also, Minister of Finance HE Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari met with President of World Bank Group HE Ajay Banga. The meeting discussed cooperation relations and aspects of enhancing them in investment, financial and economic fields, as well as issues of mutual concern.
27/01/2026
New Wells Add to Egypt’s Oil Production
Agiba Petroleum Company, a joint venture between the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) and Italy’s Eni, has drilled Dorra-36 and West Yasmine-3 new wells in its Western Desert concession, kicking off its 2026 drilling campaign.
According to the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources (MoPMR), the move is part of an accelerated strategy to offset natural decline and maximize recovery of mature basins through advanced geological evaluation.
Initial testing of the two new wells showed an estimated combined production of 1,650 barrels of crude oil per day (bbl/d) and approximately 19 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscf/d) of natural gas from the Khatatba and Masajid geological formations.
Agiba has invested US$404 million during the Fiscal year 2024/25 period to sustain an average total output of more than 40,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d), according to Tharwat El Gendy, the company’s chairman, in August.
He noted that during the year Agiba maintained a stable production base by drilling 28 production wells and two exploration wells.
By leveraging advanced seismic data and enhanced oil recovery (EOR) techniques, Agiba aims to continue its trajectory of production growth and asset optimization in the Western Desert.
27/01/2026
Egypt & Germany Mull Boosting Energy Ties
Karim Badawi, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, held talks with Frank Witzel, State Secretary at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, and discussed cooperation in the domain of energy, according to a statement.
Badawi and Witzel explored ways to promote investment in natural gas, bolster green energy, and expand technology transfer while supporting human capacity building.
The minister reviewed the latest developments and investment incentives in Egypt's oil and gas sector, highlighting promising opportunities in natural gas exploration, value-added industries, and petrochemicals.
He affirmed leveraging the advanced technology to boost production and reduce costs, as well as environmental sustainability programs and carbon emission reduction initiatives.
At the end of the meeting, the two officials agreed to continue exploring ways to enhance cooperation and knowledge transfer in the coming period.
27/01/2026
Bahraini Arcapita Signs JV Partnership with Cloud Capital
Arcapita Group Holdings, the global alternative investment firm headquartered in Bahrain, has announced a joint venture partnership with Cloud Capital to acquire a 21-megawatt data center located in Minneapolis, US, with plans to expand its capacity to 31 MW.
Cloud Capital is a leading US-based global data centre investment management firm with a diversified portfolio of 26 data center assets worth over US$5.5 billion in assets under management, with longstanding relationships with top-tier tenants in the sector.
Minneapolis represents a growing data center hub underpinned by robust power infrastructure, low natural disaster risk, and a diversified economic base spanning Fortune 500 and 1000 companies, healthcare leaders, and technology innovators.
The region continues to experience record-low data center vacancy rates amid accelerating AI adoption and heightened enterprise cloud demand.
According to Arcapita, the data centre is primarily leased on a long-term basis to a leading provider of sovereign AI and cloud inferencing solutions and is strategically positioned to benefit from surging demand for high-density digital infrastructure driven by artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and enterprise digital transformation.
The planned 10 MW expansion is expected to significantly increase operating income and enhance the overall value of the investment.
Martin Tan, Chief Investment Officer at Arcapita, said: "Artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure are forming an increasingly important part of Arcapita’s long-term strategy, aligned with our focus on resilient, income-generating assets."
"Our partnership with Cloud Capital, a specialized data center investment management firm with top-tier tenant relationships, represents a key milestone for Arcapita in this segment and provides us with a strong foundation to scale across key markets," he stated.
Shariar Mohajer, President and Chief Investment Officer at Cloud Capital, said: "Our investment in this Minneapolis data center reflects our commitment to identifying strategic assets that offer both immediate income and significant upside. With 21MW of stabilised capacity and an additional 10MW of expansion potential, we are delivering a highly attractive investment that provides a downside-protected return profile. Further, we are thrilled to partner with Arcapita and broaden our universe of strategic relationships."
Brian Hebb, Managing Director and Head of US Real Estate at Arcapita, said: "Data centers are a cornerstone of the digital economy and a key focus area within Arcapita’s U.S. real estate strategy. This investment provides exposure to a mission-critical asset leased to a leading AI and cloud computing firm, with substantial growth potential through expansion."
"Arcapita will continue to strengthen its presence in the U.S. market through investments in essential real estate and infrastructure assets that combine stable cashflows with disciplined, value-enhancing growth," he added.
27/01/2026
Egyptian Cabinet Grants Lands for Green Hydrogen Projects in Red Sea
The Cabinet approved the allocation of several plots of land in the Red Sea Governorate to the General Authority for Red Sea Ports to support the development of green hydrogen projects and related infrastructure
During the Cabinet’s 76th meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, an area of 251.73 acres has been allocated to establish a green hydrogen production plant, an area of 50.17 acres has also been allocated to establish the marine pier for the green hydrogen project, in addition to 173.92 acres to be used in implementing the route of the electricity transmission cable line.
This decision aligns with the country’s efforts to diversify energy sources and shift towards a low-carbon economy as part of its National Low-Carbon Hydrogen Strategy, launched in August 2024.
The strategy envisions Egypt producing as much as 5.8 million metric tons of green hydrogen annually, a feat projected to attract up to US$60 billion in investments. Through this, the government aims to reach a 5-8% share of the global hydrogen market by 2040.
27/01/2026