Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal affirmed India’s commitment towards unlocking the trade potential with the Central Asian region through the use of Chabahar Port in Iran.
On the occasion of ‘Chabahar Day’, Union Ports, Shipping & Waterways Ministry along with the Indian Ports Global Ltd. (IPGL) which was formed to participate in Shahid Behesthi Port at Chabahar development project, organized a conference in Mumbai.
Sonowal and the Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways and Tourism Shripad Yesso Naik interacted with the high level diplomatic delegation from Central Asian Countries. Sonowal also said, “Our vision is to make Chabahar Port a transit hub under the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) to reach out to CIS countries”.
“Chabahar Day” is celebrated to mark the beginning of INSTC – an Indian vision to economize movement of cargo between India and Central Asia. The Chabahar Port located in Iran is the commercial transit centre for the region and especially Central Asia.
The high level diplomatic delegation present on the occasion included His Excellency Mr. Nurlan Zhalgasbayev, Ambassador, Republic of Kazakhstan; His Excellency Mr Asein Isaev, Ambassador, Kyrgyzstan; His Excellency Mr Lukmon Bobokalonzoda, Ambassador Tajikistan; His Excellency Mr Shalar Geldynazarov Amassador, Turkmenistan, His Excellency Mr Dilshod Akhatov, Ambassador, Uzbekistan, His Excellency Mr Jalil Eslami, Deputy of Port and Economic Affairs of PMO; Ms Zakia Wardak, Consul General (CG), Afghanistan; His Excellency Dr A MAlikhani, Consul General, Islamic Republic of Iran and His Excellency Mr Masoud Ostad Hossein.
Speaking at the event, the Minister said, “The idea of INSTC via the vibrant Shahid Beheshti Port at Chabahar in Iran is an idea to connect the two markets using a multi modal logistical corridor”. This will rationalise our logistics cost which will contribute towards the trade volume between the two regions, he said.
Thanking all the stakeholders’ who have shown active support for the development of the Chabahar Port, he said, through combined efforts, a point of connectivity enhancing trade and commerce among India and Central Asian countries has been successfully developed.
Sonowal also said that loading and unloading capacity of the Shahid Beheshthi Port at Chabhar which today stands 8.5 million tonnes, will be enhanced to 15 million tonnes on completion of the Phase I of the project.
