India Resolved to Contribute to Development of Iran’s Chabahar Port: Minister
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – India’s Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal expressed his country’s determination to play a constructive role in the development of Chabahar, voicing support for Iran’s plans to turn the port into a regional and international commercial hub.
In a meeting with Iranian First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber, held in Tehran on Sunday, Sonowal expressed his country’s interest in increasing investments in the development of Chabahar port, saying, “We support Iran’s policy and prospect for turning the Chabahar port into an important international and regional hub.”
The Indian government has a serious and firm determination to have a constructive role in this important plan, he added.
Sonowal also stressed the need to take great steps to promote cooperation between the Iranian and Indian governments, saying New Delhi is committed to expanding bilateral relations.
The government and people of the two countries will always stand by each other as they have shown this throughout history, he stated.
For his part, Mokhber described the development of the Chabahar port as a great and exceptional opportunity for the people of Iran, India, and the region.
He said Iran welcomes the presence and investment of foreigners in finalizing and developing projects at the Chabahar port, according to the government’s official website.
The completion of projects in Chabahar will increase the commercial exchanges and transit of the North-South corridor in the region, Mokhber added.
He said the volume of investment and commercial and economic exchanges between the two countries is not commensurate with their deep and long-term political relations.
Tehran supports implementing agreements and commercial relations with New Delhi, he noted.
In a separate meeting with the Indian minister in Tehran, Iranian Minister of Roads and Urban Development Rostam Qassemi expressed the country’s readiness to sign a long-term contract with India on developing the Chabahar port.
India Ports Global and Aria Banader Iranian Port signed a deal in May 2016 to equip and operate containers and multi-purpose terminals at Shahid Beheshti port in Chabahar with the capital investment of $85.21 million and annual revenue expenditure of $ 22.95 million on a 10-year lease.
Chabahar is the closest and best access point of Iran to the Indian Ocean and Iran has devised serious plans to turn it into a transit hub for immediate access to markets in the northern part of the Indian Ocean and Central Asia.
It aims to create a reliable transport corridor for the smooth transport and transit of goods and services through Chabahar Port between Afghanistan, India, and Iran.
