Tehran, Iran, April 29
By Mehdi Sepahvand –- Trend:
Iran will inaugurate Port Chabahar’s first phase by the Gulf of Oman shortly after the May 19 presidential election, CEO of Ports and Sailing Organization Mohammad Saidnejad said.
According to the official, the megaproject’s inauguration will be attended by high-ranking officials from neighboring countries, Mehr news agency reported April 29.
On the development of the port, Saidnejad said over $900 million went into the project. $300 million was provided by the Ports and Sailing Organization under a contract with Khatam ul-Anbiya Construction Base, $403 million was jointly invested by the organization and the National Development Fund, $150 million under a contract between the organization and an Indian partner, and $85 million between Iran and India in the form of BOT (build, operate, transfer) contract.
Head of General Department of CIS and Caucasus Countries of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran Gholamreza Bagheri Moghaddam on April 21 said Central Asian countries are keen to join Iran’s Chabahar Port project.
Bagheri said the Central Asian countries want to have their own terminals in Chabahar Port. The port is said to have the potential to become a rival to the Chinese-made Gwadar Port in Pakistan.
Iran, India and Afghanistan have an agreement on the Chabahar project. India has already invested about $230 million in the project to develop Chabahar, according to Iran’s Minister of Transportation Abbas Akhoundi.