The Chabahar port strategic role to unlock trade potential is huge, says Sonowal
Ministerial delegation from India and Iran have discussed the possibilities of trade and unlock trade potential between Central Asian countries with South Asian, ASEAN and even from Far East countries like Japan and Korea.
Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal and Dr Ali Akbar Safaee, Deputy Minister and Managing Director of Ports and Maritime Organisation, Iran, led the discussions on 20 Aug 2022 at Shahid Behestti port at Chabahar in Iran.
“The strategic role of Chabahar port to unlock trade potential in the regional trade between Central Asia, South Asia and South East Asia is huge,” Sonowal, said.
“We are continuously working towards making the International North South Transport Corridor as the preferred route of trade between the two regions.”
Sonowal also reiterated that Chabahar port can play a role in reducing distance, time and cost.
Since India Ports Global Private Limited (IPGPL) assumed operations of Shahid Beheshti Port, it has handled over 4.8 million tons of bulk cargo. Mumbai-located IGPL was incorporated on 22 January 2015 as a Government of India company for the Chabahar port.
The trans-shipped goods were from various countries including Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil, Germany, Oman, Romania, Russia, Thailand, the UAE, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.
The meeting decided to form a joint technical committee for smooth functioning of the port and addressed the future course of action towards development of the port.
The Indian Minister underlined, “Our shared historical relationship has been the seedbed of Indo-Iranian bilateral relationship.
“The sustained engagement, and all-round efforts in the preceding years, provide an ideal platform for further expansion and deepening of the bilateral relation.
“India remains fully committed to develop the Chabahar port to realise the vision set during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Iran in 2016.”
Sonowal also attended the inauguration of six mobile harbour cranes that would act as a force multiplier for the operation of the Shahid Behesti Port and further fuel impetus to the development of the Chabahar port.
He handed the mobile harbour cranes to Indian Ports Global Chabahar Free Trade Zone (IPGCFTZ), the operator.
The Port is likely to act as a catalyst to unlock the huge trade potential in the region, said the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
It is being operated in close cooperation between India’s India Ports Global Limited (IGPL) and Iranian stakeholders including Iran’s Port and Maritime Organisation, Iranian Customs Administration and the Chabahar Free Zone Authority, Shahid Behesti Port Authority and other stakeholders.
In 2016, India signed a deal with Iran, committing US$8 billion investment in the Chabahar Port and industries in the Chabahar Special Economic Zone, including an aluminium smelter and a urea making facility.
It is Iran’s only oceanic port, and consists of two separate ports named Shahid Kalantari and Shahid Behesthi.
The Chabahar port, a transit route to Afghanistan and Central Asia, is in southeastern Iran, on the Gulf of Oman. fiinews.com
