Abstract:
Mismatch of territories under authority of local governments with urban-regional activity domains,
on one hand, has caused numerous problems and, on the other hand, has hindered taking maximum advantage of regional capacities and partial and competitive advantages. Hence, application of a new regionalism approach, which focuses on shared planning and management by all stakeholder groups within the pertinent domain, may help solve such problems. In this regard, this paper aims to investigate legal grounds of new regionalism, generally, in Iran and, particularly, in Qeshm Island, and its requirements for increasing competitiveness and creativity in Qeshm Island. Hence, underlying concepts of new regionalism and their relation with a creative city are investigated at first step. Next, legal grounds of new regionalism within national laws and organizational goals and missions of Qeshm Free Trade Zone Organization (FTZO) are investigated. Finally, a comparative study of new regionalism related issues and goals of Qeshm FTZO is provided. Results indicate that such an approach has been referred to both in national codes and goals and missions of Qeshm Free Trade Zone Organization. Moreover, new regionalism can lead to increased quality of life by considering concepts of smart growth, social justice, and environmental justice which can result in attracting creative classes of citizens and building up a creative city. Furthermore, this approach can increase competitiveness in Qeshm Island through making use of its partial and competitive advantages and facilitating laws and regulations with regard to economic activities and foreign investment.
Machine summary:
"New regionalism related discussion in line with the Goals of Qeshm Free Trade Zone Organization (FTZO) Social and environmental justice Creative city Good governance Goals and Missions of Improvement of quality of life in Qeshm Creating an enjoyable environment for living, safe for investment, and Providing services to Qeshm FTZO (Qeshm prospective for new ideas stakeholder groups free area, 2015)(00) (organization, 2015) Creation of necessary opportunities for all citizens in order to use, benefit, and understand the existing potentials and assets of the Island Elimination of impoverishment and improvement of job opportunities Training skilled and specialized human resources and facilitate their participation in management of Qeshm resources and investment activities Such characters are: Bilateral cooperation; regional and international with neighbor countries in priority (Paragraph 39-1); Active and purposeful presentation in regional and international organizations (Paragraph 40); Enhancement of Iranian managerial role in distribution and transit of energy in the region (Paragraph 41); Improvingcultural,legal,political,andeconomicinteractionswith the world especially the Iranian-Islamic region (Paragraph 42); Full-scale development of cooperation in trade, investment, and technology with Southwest Asian countries (Paragraph 30); Emphasis on export development strategy especially in high- tech services (Paragraph 29) (Expediency council, 2015)."