India Offers Chabahar Port Six Cranes To Promote Trade In Region

Sarbananda Sonowal, India’s minister for ports, shipping, and ayush, paid a visit to the Shahid Behestti port in Iran to present six new mobile harbor cranes to the Indian Ports Global Chabahar Free Trade Zone (IPGCFTZ) on Saturday. Gaddam Dharmendra, India’s ambassador to Iran also went with the Minister. The team of Iran was spearheaded during the launch by Dr. Ali Akbar Safaee, Managing Director and Deputy Minister of Ports and Maritime Organization, Iran.

The discussion between Sonowal and Dr. Ali Akbar Safaee regarding the port’s expansion and maritime cooperation between India and Iran was productive. The delegations explored how to open up economic opportunities between ASEAN, South Asian, and Far Eastern nations like Korea and Japan, per officials.

Sonowal underlined on this occasion how Chabahar port might also facilitate cutting down costs, travel time, and distance. It was decided to have in place a joint technical committee that would make sure that the port functioned well. The course of future action for port development was discussed in the meeting.

Per Sonowal, the shared historical link has played a vital role as the foundation for bilateral ties between Iran and India. The involvement and coordinated efforts that have been made over the earlier years have given the bilateral relationship the ideal foundation for development and growth.

For realizing the goals highlighted during India’s PM Narendra Modi’s visit to Iran in 2016, India is committed to building the Chabahar port. The launch of these SIX mobile harbor cranes would further boost the productivity of the Shahid Behesti Port and provide extra momentum for its growth.

Chabahar port has a critical strategic role to play in facilitating regional trade between Central Asia, South Asia, and South East Asia. As the key commerce channel between the two areas, they are working to make the International North-South Transport Corridor.

Bulk cargo worth more than 4.8 million tonnes was tackled at the Shahid Beheshti Port from the time the India Ports Global Private Limited (IPGPL) had taken over managing the facility. Several nations, including Germany, Oman, Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil, Romania, Thailand, Russia, the UAE, Uzbekistan, and Ukraine transshipped products.

Iranian stakeholders, such as the Chabahar Free Zone Authority, Port and Maritime Organization, Customs Administration, and Shahid Behesti Port, collaborate with India’s IGPL to operate the port.

India has proposed to connect the Port with INSTC, which may catalyze the region’s huge commerce potential.

Sonowal is on a three-day official trip to Iran, the UAE, and Jebel Ali Port in the UAE. The tour aims at showing Chabahar port’s importance as one of the crossing points for trade between India and the Russia, CIS, and Europe.

References: MSN, News X, India Blooms