Blue economy serves as a significant component in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of countries benefiting from maritime advantages. Iran, despite possessing 5,800 kilometers of coastal strips (40% of the country’s borders), holds numerous capacities and countless opportunities in the maritime economy. However, despite the initiatives undertaken, Iran has not been notably successful in fully utilizing this God-given blessing. The underutilization of blue economic capacities in the country has led to a noticeable gap in the living conditions and activities within the southern coastal strip, contrary to its potential.
Even though the population and activities in coastal areas of the country are comparatively limited in scale to other countries, the environmental and social issues in these regions surpass those in many developing coastal areas, signifying the instability of development in the country’s coastal regions. Approximately 2% of Iran’s GDP is supplied through maritime means, a significantly low figure considering the available capacities in the country. For instance, around 48% of Vietnam’s GDP and approximately 10% of China’s GDP, as one of the world’s largest economies, are maritime-based.
The country’s top-level documents have shown particular attention to the blue economy. Among these documents is the Vision 1404 document, the draft of the Seventh Development Plan, and the general policies of the maritime economy issued by the leader.
According to the Vision document, the Islamic Republic of Iran aims to hold the primary economic position in the region by the year 1404 in the solar calendar. The Seventh Development Plan Law also emphasizes the necessity of focusing on the maritime economy. The “land-use planning document” highlights the development of coastal areas and the increase in population density, activities, and related industries in these areas.
To advance the blue economy in the country, the following strategies should be prioritized:
1- Increasing industrial and population density in the southern coastal strip of the country: According to -higher-level documents, the development of the southern region is a priority. The improper distribution of population and activities across the country has resulted in economic, social, and environmental issues, leading to a concentration in central cities like Tehran and northern cities. Placing water-intensive industries in arid and water-scarce regions has led to environmental crises and water stress, triggering various social tensions. Additionally, this concentration has caused widespread migration and reduced the population in southern regions. Hence, aligning with the nation’s macro policies, there’s a necessity to redistribute the population and activities based on the capacities of the maritime economy.
2- Developing maritime industries and coastal tourism: The southern coastal areas hold unique potential for tourism, yet this exceptional opportunity hasn’t been fully exploited. It’s crucial to enhance tourism infrastructure in these regions to attract tourists. Utilizing media tools for coastal tourism and maritime-based economy promotions is essential.
3- Increasing international cooperation for attracting foreign investment: The economic competition in Asia and the world provides an opportunity for the country to strategically utilize the created opportunities to attract foreign investment, accelerating the development of maritime industries and both southern and northern ports.
4- Activating the role of ports in international corridors: One of the fundamental steps towards increasing the maritime economy’s contribution to the country’s GDP is activating the pivotal role of the country’s main ports in international corridors. This perpetual utilization ensures a reduced return period for the capital invested in constructing these port infrastructures, allowing the country’s capital to create necessary new infrastructures in remote areas. Given the location between the Caspian Sea in the north and the oceanic waters in the south, the country’s ports can facilitate more in the North-South international corridor than the East-West corridors, making it a primary goal in activating the country’s ports’ role in transit areas.
5- Prioritizing the country’s port development: Another essential action in increasing the maritime economy’s share in the country is prioritizing projects and avoiding an insular perspective by various sectors. Without a comprehensive view of the country’s port status and their contribution to Iran’s economy in the medium and long term, creating a comprehensive document supervised by all influential and responsible organizations in the maritime economy sector is necessary. The absence of such a document has hindered the rapid development of strategic areas, leading to the piecemeal allocation of financial resources, elongating project implementation, and depriving the country of their benefits. Collaboration among various authorities is crucial to prioritize resources and execute projects, maximizing coordination and reducing the country’s time and financial losses.
6- the coasts and southern ports for strengthening sustainable security and the identity dimensions of the Persian Gulf: The development of southern cities and ports can contribute to economic growth, ensuring population stability and consequently sustainable security. An extensive and purposeful presence in ports and bue economy in the Persian Gulf is crucial in the identity context as well. In today’s world, alongside military and political power, economic, social, and identity dimensions hold considerable importance. A marginal presence in the maritime economy has allowed Persian Gulf countries to establish their identity using their ports and industries, an opportunity Iran should also seize.”
