A Qeshm Free Trade Zone official said in Qeshm Sunday that the Iranian government has approved a plan to build a bridge which will link the Persian Gulf island of Qeshm to the mainland, IRNA reported from Tehran.

Speaking at the "Second Preliminary Meeting of the Far East Expo in Qeshm", deputy head of the Organization of Qeshm Free Trade Zone Fereydoun Alimoradi said some dlrs 190 million is needed for the construction of the 1800-meter bridge.

He further pointed out that no restrictions have ever been set on establishment of branches of foreign banks in the island and said any foreign bank could open up a branch in the island provided it offers a deposit of one million dollars for opening its office and then another 5 million dollars as collateral.

The First Exhibition of Far East States in Qeshm is to be held in Qeshm in early 2004 with participation of Japan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, China, Brunei and Iran.

Alimoradi said a number of Central Asian countries as well as Afghanistan, Iraq and Azerbaijan have also voiced interest in participating in the event.