Tehran, Iran, May 24
Trend:
Head of Ports and Maritime Organization in Sistan and Baluchestan province of Iran insists that branches of banks of Afghanistan, India and Pakistan shall be opened in Chabahar Port.
"We asked Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to allow the establishment of branches of banks of Afghanistan, India and Pakistan in the port,” said Behrooz Aghaie, Trend reports citing ILNA.
Referring to his recent meeting with Iran Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, the official noted that he also asked the Ministry to address the issue of passenger transportation from Pakistan via Chabahar and attract private sector contractors to construct Chabahar- Muscat passenger transportation lines.
"Chabahar has currently transits nine ships with Indian goods to Afghanistan allowing for transportation of 10,000 containers from Sistan and Baluchestan Provinces," he said.
The trilateral transit agreement signed by India, Iran and Afghanistan in 2016 allows Indian goods to reach Afghanistan through Iran. It links ports in the western coast of India to the Chabahar port and covers the road and rail links between Chabahar and the Afghan border.
"India opened $150 million credit line for development of Chabahr Port and provided $85 million to install equipment for loading and unloading," Behrooz Aghaie added.
In his words, the National Development Fund had offered $403 million for development of Chabahr, and 50 percent of equipment were purchased and arrived at the port. "The port capacity is to increase from 2.5 million tons to 8.5 million. The annual capacity of the port is expected to reach 20 million after the railway track construction is completed," he said.
He stressed the importance of developing Chabahar Port, which, he said, "will increase Iran's trade through sea transit, raise the country’s competitiveness in export and transit of goods and transit, reduce costs of imports and improve the connection with regional countries."
"The current exports volume of Indian products to CIS countries reaches 16.5 million tons per year; the easiest and cheapest way for their shipment is via Chabahar Port," he added.