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One Last Interview

A Bright
Record to Show

An International Institute for Higher Education, a project of supplying fuel to ships, 84 schools, two major factories and $350 million of absorbed investment are some of the achievements of QFA Organization in the recent years

Those who had traveled to Qeshm several years ago know that it used to be an island in the Persian Gulf, and “investor-friendly” was the last thing you could call it. Concepts such as infrastructure, industry, investment and joint venture were practically “nonexistent”.
Today, owing to the endeavors of a number dedicated people led by Behrooz Boushehri, former managing director of Qeshm Free Area (QFA) Organization, Qeshm is an investor-friendly, trade-friendly and industry-friendly island.
Boushehri’s last interview as managing director of QFA was the exclusive he granted Iran International on the occasion of Carleton University’s branch inauguration in Qeshm.
Unaware of his upcoming replacement, we took the opportunity to ask Boushehri about the most recent developments in Qeshm. He listed a number of accomplishments, some of them true sources of pride. The result, as it turned out, became the account of the final achievements of QFA Organization under the management of Behrooz Boushehri.

A flourishing Qeshm bids farewell to a man who unfailingly led the Island through development

Cultural Development: We believe that QFA should have a multi-dimensional growth if we are determined to achieve a sustainable development in the country. This could be materialized only when we see social, cultural, political and educational growth simultaneous with the industrial growth. When industry develops, education can further improve as a result.
Therefore, it was on QFA development agenda to expand education. In the past 7-8 years, 84 schools were built in the island. Islamic Azad University has also opened up a branch. While in the past there were only 3 girls in Qeshm with high school diploma, there are now at least 180 undergraduate girl students.
We have been endeavoring for something new to perform in Qeshm in addition to the said measures: Many foreign universities were contacted and we managed to finalize a contract with Canada’s Carleton University to offer undergraduate programs in engineering and technical fields and master of management studies (MMS) at the graduate level in Qeshm Institute for Higher Education (QIHE).
This program has received widespread welcome. While the first cohort of students would only be around 40, thousands of people have filled out the application form and many have so far been interviewed, the results of which have been sent out to Carleton University authorities.
The main point regarding this project is that from now on, Iranian students, as well as those in neighboring countries, are able to attend the university in Qeshm, and graduate from a “Western University”. The same degree which is granted to Carleton graduates in Ottawa, Canada, is given to those who complete the program in Qeshm.
While it takes about two years to complete an MMS program in Carleton, it can be completed within 16 months in Qeshm. Moreover, the MMS program has been designed in a way which fits best with the professional life of executives. The 10 courses which should be passed during the program are offered based on a certain schedule: A student should attend classes for two weeks and then there is a four-week break during which they can go back home. Six courses are offered based on such a schedule, and during the next summer, the student is sent to Canada to take two research-oriented courses. This is a modified form of the usual MBA program.
Students who apply to study at QIHE do not need to take TOEFL or GMAT, due to specific conditions prevailed in Iran. The only test which the students should take in order to be admitted at the University is CAEL (Carleton English Language Test) which is held at least three times a year in Tehran or in Qeshm.
There are seven courses which the engineering graduates or others should take, if they have not taken them before, to start their education at Carleton.

Advantages of Studying at the QIHE:

Qeshm is an island bigger than 22 member countries of the United Nations housing a total of 64 villages

1. Students do not need to leave the country and live abroad without their families for several years;

2. Completion of the MMS program at Carleton University in Canada costs each person at least 40,000 Canadian dollars, while the program can be taken with one-fourth of this cost in Qeshm;

3. The desire by some to get a degree from a foreign university can be properly responded locally;

4. The country, which has lagged behind other countries in terms of technology and cultural growth due to the eight-year war, would be able to take a major stride toward educational advancement by opening up of Carleton University’s branch in Qeshm.

5. Once the “Web-based learning” system is launched, the students in Qeshm can directly exchange information with Carleton students in Canada or ask questions from Carleton professors online.

6. The program is taught and supervised directly by Carleton University professors, particularly in the first year.

Share of the Qeshm Residents: Many border areas such as Bushehr and Sistan-Baluchestan Province suffered a lack of educational facilities in the past. The 84 schools built in Qeshm in the recent years has been an unprecedented measure toward educational development of the Zone. These facilities can be used by all local residents with no restriction. Most students in the Azad University, for example, are from local people, while some students are from Hormozgan Province.
Since a couple of years ago, we have organized preparatory classes for the nationwide university entrance exam in Qeshm and most of those who attended the classes have been accepted at the higher education institutes of the country.

Industry and Production: Based on a comprehensive development plan of QFA, we have taken many measures for the economic development of the island: The unprecedented project of supplying fuel to ships have been successfully implemented in Qeshm. It has high potentials and can create a $2-3 billion market in the island. There are only 3 or 4 markets of this type in the world.
Contrary to cars or aircraft, ships can only be fueled in a few specific areas of the world. The Qeshm ship fuel station has now been registered on international maps. This fuel station is the closest spot for the ships passing through the Persian Gulf.
After four months of launching ship fuel providing from Qeshm, we have exported a worth of fuel four times more than the whole country’s exports and this figure will grow by six or seven times to the end of the year.
“Crew change” can also be done at Qeshm and this creates many job opportunities in the area. Totally, 100 various services which could be rendered at Qeshm to ships have been listed by the QFA Organization.
The market in Qeshm enjoys a $100-150 million capacity now, but it is predicted that this capacity will grow to $2 billion in a couple of years. Moreover, the market will be more export-oriented in the future.
A giant project is “Kaveh” port facilities with the capacity of 40,000 tons at the first phase, upon the completion of which Qeshm can be a center for re-exporting of commodities.

After four months of launching a ship fuel station, Qeshm has exported a worth of fuel four times more than the whole country’s exports and this figure will grow by six or seven times in a few months

Progress has been made on the feasibility studies of “Persian Gulf Bridge” project. We are negotiating with various companies to make the contract for building the 2400-meter bridge, which will connect Qeshm to mainland Iran.
A cement factory, Azadegan, has also been operational in Qeshm. This is the first and only cement factory which satisfies the cement demands in Qeshm as well as the need of the rest of the country. The factory’s potential output is 700 tons which is to be expanded to 1000 tons soon. Two important factories have been commissioned this year in Qeshm: a cement producing factory and a zinc smelter.
Hi tech development has been another issue which the Qeshm Organization has put on its agenda. In addition, Qeshm has singed a cooperation protocol with Jebel Ali free trade zone, which is the nearest free trade zone to Qeshm.

Oil, Gas Companies in Qeshm: Foreigners are gradually realizing the high potentials of Qeshm for economic growth. There are two gas reserves in the island, one of which is operational at the moment. Oil is a new market for companies in Qeshm. Some of the companies have reached the zone to explore oil and gas markets while many of firms are looking for opportunities in rendering services to ships. Some other oil companies are there to build oil refineries and construction operations will soon start in QFA to build an oil refinery. A most important project is construction of a repair shop for gas turbines which are used in the oil and gas industry. These turbines are currently sent abroad for overhaul. This is due to be completed next year.

Target: If the current development trend continues, the trade balance of Qeshm will be positive for the first time in the country, i.e. the exports value will surpass that of imports. In fact, Qeshm has reached its pre-planned goals, set by President Khatami when he took office in 1997, much earlier before the target date.
There are 1,800 investors in Qeshm; 5500 billion rials has been invested domestically. About 1,200 billion rails has been done by the Free Trade Zone Organization. This is while we have had 40 cases of foreign investments which, in the next couple of years, will reach $1.5 billion, $350 million of which has so far been absorbed.