Meeting of the Founding Board of the International Free Zones Stock Exchange Held with the Presence of the Secretary of the Supreme Council of Free Zones and the Head of the Securities and Exchange Organization

International Free Zones Stock Exchange Enters the Operational Phase / The Path to Launching the Fifth Stock Exchange of the Country Is ClearedFollowing the issuance of the establishment license for the International Free Zones Stock Exchange by the Supreme Council of Securities and Exchange of Iran, a meeting of the Founding Board of this exchange was held with the participation of the Secretary of the Supreme Council of Free and Special Economic Zones, the Head of the Securities and Exchange Organization (SEO), and members of the Founding Board.The Founding Board of the International Free Zones Stock Exchange consists of a group of investment banks, brokerage firms, investment companies, banks, insurance companies, major economic holdings, and Free Zone organizations. During the meeting, the trends, processes, and executive requirements for launching the exchange were reviewed and discussed.The meeting emphasized the necessity of institutional coordination and acceleration of executive actions. Participants reached a consensus regarding the executive structure, operational stages of establishment, and mechanisms for initiating the activities of the International Free Zones Stock Exchange.Based on the agreements reached, it was decided that until the official commencement of activities, the Secretariat of the International Free Zones Stock Exchange will be based at the Secretariat of the Supreme Council of Free and Special Economic Zones and will be responsible for following up on the establishment process. In addition, the formation of specialized committees—including executive, legal, trading system, depository, and clearing and settlement committees—was approved, and the members of each committee were appointed.The International Free Zones Stock Exchange, as the fifth official stock exchange of the country, has been established following extensive and continuous follow-ups and consultations by the Secretariat of the Supreme Council of Free Zones and under the special directive of the Secretary of the Supreme Council. With the aim of attracting foreign investors and Iranians residing abroad, this exchange is considered one of the key pillars of capital market development. Through the issuance of diverse foreign currency–based instruments, it will provide a platform for attracting foreign capital, developing foreign trade, and increasing exports. This exchange will be registered as a public joint-stock company in one of the country’s Free Zones.It is worth noting that the regulation governing the establishment and operation of stock exchanges in Free Zones was approved by the Council of Ministers in March 2019. Necessary measures to operationalize the establishment and activity of this exchange, with the participation of domestic and foreign shareholders, have been on the agenda of the Secretariat of the Supreme Council of Free Zones and the Securities and Exchange Organization for several years.This meeting was held on the morning of Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at the Secretariat of the Supreme Council of Free Trade–Industrial and Special Economic Zones