World

Iran seeks long-term contract with India on developing Chabahar Port

Iran has said that it is ready to sign a long-term contract with India on developing the Chabahar Port in order to realise its true potential in the coming years.

Iranian Minister of Roads and Urban Development Rostam Qasemi expressed Tehran’s intention during his meeting with visiting India’s Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal in Tehran, earlier this week.

Qasemi described India as an “important and big country” that can play an essential role in the transit of goods in the region. He also hoped that the relations between the two countries regarding investment in Chabahar Port will materialize.

Sonowal referred to the cultural, historical, and civilizational commonalities between Iran and India and reiterated the role played by Chabahar Port, India’s first overseas port project, as a trade multiplier as it can reduce the route, cost, and time of transporting goods in the region significantly.


He stated that the port’s growing potential as a swift, economical trade conduit between Central, South and South-East Asia, remains to be tapped fully.

If the full potential of the Chabahar is realised, said Sonowal, then it can not only become the gateway for Indian trade with Europe, Russia and CIS countries but also turn into one of the most important ports in the world in the near future.

Iranian Vice President Mohammad Mokhber described developing Chabahar port as a great and exceptional opportunity for the people of Iran, India, and the region (Image courtesy: Government of Iran)

During his three-day visit, Sonowal also visited Chabahar and met Iranian Vice President Mohammad Mokhber. The top Iranian politician mentioned that the commercial exchange and transit of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) in the region will increase significantly due to Chabahar.

Making it clear that Tehran supports implementing agreements and commercial relations with New Delhi, Mokhber particularly pointed that the volume of investments and commercial and economic exchanges between the two countries is not commensurate with the deep and long-term political relations.

Sonowal told Mokhber that New Delhi is committed to expanding bilateral relations with Iran and will always stand by the country as it has done throughout history.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on recognition of Certificates of Competency in Unlimited Voyages aimed at smoothening the movement of seafarers from both countries was also signed during Sonowal’s visit.

India Ports Global Limited (IPGL), through its wholly-owned subsidiary India Ports Global Chabahar Free Zone (IPGCFZ), took over the operations of the Chabahar Port on December 24, 2018.

Since then, the Shahid Beheshti Port has handled over 4.8 million tons of bulk cargo and continues to act as a catalyst to unlock the huge trade potential in the region by handling shipments and trans-shipments from various countries including Russia, Brazil, Thailand, Germany, Ukraine, Oman, Romania, Bangladesh, Australia, Kuwait, Uzbekistan, and UAE.

India has also supplied six Mobile Habour Cranes (two with 140-tonne and four having 100-tonne capacity) and other equipment worth USD 25 million.

The port has also provided the much-needed sea access to landlocked Afghanistan with India supplying 75,000 tonnes of wheat to Kabul as part of the humanitarian assistance programme, three years ago.

Also Read: In Tashkent, India and Uzbekistan call for linking Chabahar port with regional network

Ateet Sharma

Ateet Sharma reads the pulse of the geopolitical contests in Eurasia, and India’s outreach in the region and beyond.

Recent Posts

MEA condemns Canada’s “baseless references” against Home Minister Amit Shah

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Saturday strongly protested against recent allegations made by…

7 hours ago

“Verification patrolling has commenced… in Demchok and Depsang”: MEA on disengagement between India and China

The Ministry of External Affairs on Saturday said that verification patrolling has commenced in Demchok…

8 hours ago

“Sanctioned companies not in violation of Indian law,” says MEA after US sanctions 19 Indian companies

The Ministry of External Affairs on Saturday reacted to the recent U.S. sanctions imposed on…

8 hours ago

Two terrorists killed in encounter with security forces in J-K’s Anantnag

Two terrorists were killed by security forces during an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag…

11 hours ago

“Not an issue of security lapses, security forces giving befitting reply”: Rajnath Singh on J-K terror attacks

Terming the recent terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir as "unfortunate", Union Defence Minister Rajnath…

12 hours ago

Nasirabad: BYC holds demonstrations against enforced disappearances by Pakistan’s forces

The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) held demonstrations against the ongoing enforced disappearances by the Pakistan…

15 hours ago