Evaluation of challenges and opportunities creating a creative city in free trade zones (Case Study: Aras Free Trade Zone)

Implementing creative cities strategies is one of the practical solutions for todays, cities. Cities, which have societal, economical, cultural and environmental issues, are able to moderate these issues through prioritizing creative elements. The purpose of this research is evaluation of challenges and opportunities in developing a creative city in "ARAS FREE TRAD – INDUSTRIAL ZONE The collection of requirements data has been done with literature review (documental) and field work survey. The research involves collecting date through different approaches including: questionnaire, field observation and interview. SWOT technique has been also used to analyze and give guideline. Examining and analyzing different aspects of region, demonstrates that it has more strength points and opportunities. The results of this study indicate followings: standing in international transportation (six corridor) with weight of 0.32, neglecting cultural and societal with weight of 0.21 are respectively, among strength and weakness points. Possessing a strategic geographical location with weight of 0.28 and advertisement, agencies, administrative offices and limited marketing with weight of 0.28 are. Respectively, the most important opportunities and threats to the region. With augmentation of strengths and opportunities points, transition from current trend to innovative development in Aras Free Zone accelerate and will close to the criterions of world creative cities. The results show that region despite having capabilities and basic infrastructure as well as having an aggressive strategy, still have more distance with important and necessary situations from a creative city.