Calculating the Ease of Doing Business Index for Anzali Free Zone in Comparison with Iran's position

The purpose of this study is to calculate the ease of doing business in Anzali Free Zone by using the World Bank method and compare it with the situation in Iran in 2019. The ease of doing business is calculated based on 10 indicators, demonstrating that the Anzali Free Zone is ranked 93rd in 2019, better than the country (128). Anzali Free Zone outdoes Iran in 5 out of 10 indicators of doing business index, including starting a business, dealing with construction permits, getting electricity, paying taxes and trading across borders. Anzali Free Zone and Iran, however, have similar situations in five other indicators including registering property, getting credit, protecting minority investors, enforcing contracts and resolving insolvency. The best situation of Anzali Free Zone is registered for the indicators of dealing with construction permits and starting a business with the ranks of 14 and 21, respectively. One of the reasons for the better ranking of these two indicators is the concentration of the concerned processes at one point in Anzali Free Zone. In order to improve the ease of doing business index in Iran and the Anzali free zone, the relevant rules should be reviewed in order to achieve the goal of creating free zones.