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High-level Iranian delegation also comes calling
The Indian Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mr Saurabh Kumar, IFS, visited Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) recently and met with senior JNPT management and other stakeholders to discuss ways and means of boosting trade between the two countries.
He was welcomed by Mr Neeraj Bansal, IRS, Chairman in-charge, JNPT, and other senior officials. Mr Kumar visited the port facilities and appreciated the trade-friendly steps introduced by JNPT in the last few years.
Mr Kumar explained the merits of increasing trade through Iran’s Chabahar port: “The infrastructure facilities at Chabahar are world class and the trade traffic needs to be increased to make use of these facilities. With the governments of India and Iran keen on developing Chabahar, the port can emerge as a crucial link to boost trade to Iran and other parts of the world.”
Both ports need to plan on sustaining traffic to enhance trade between the two countries. Chabahar port is set to be inaugurated. Iran is persistently developing and there is huge business opportunity for the transport corridor. Generating traffic for Chabahar port will give access to Afghanistan and Central Asia. The Indian private sector too can look at Chabahar as an investment option, Mr Kumar added.
Calling upon various stakeholders to benefit from the logistical advantages of Chabahar, Mr Bansal said: “The shifting of cargo from the existing routes to Chabahar, for faster movement at lower costs, will increase trade between Iran and India and Chabahar can also be used as a gateway to the neighbouring region.”
JNPT and Deendayal Port will be looking to extend all possible maritime cooperation in the relationship between the two countries. Both countries have huge stake in promoting Chabahar port. There is need to strengthen the port sector and maritime sector to economically benefit India, Iran, Afghanistan as well as many countries in Central Asia, Mr Bansal added.
Many stakeholders who interacted with Mr Kumar and JNPT officials observed that the government can incentivise the trade by providing an attractive tariff structure so that cargo volume picks up rapidly. They also urged the authorities to further improve infrastructure so that shipping lines start bringing more ships through Chabahar. Representatives from Shipping Corporation of India, EXIM Bank, Shreyas Shipping, J.M. Baxi Group, Navkar Corporation and FIEO, among others, attended the stakeholder meet.
Strategically located, Chabahar port can function as the gateway from India to Iran, Afghanistan and the Eurasian region. Transport time from Chabahar to these countries will be reduced to 25-30 days from the current 40 to 60 days and the cost of transport too will come down by about 30 per cent.
Iranian delegation
A high-level Iranian delegation, which was part of the INSTC Convention along with FFFAI, also visited JNPT. It had several members representing different industries in Iran. The INSTC/TIR Convention could be an instrument for movement of goods along the International “North-South” Transport Corridor (INSTC) and would be helpful in boosting trade with the Central Asian Republics and other Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), particularly using ports in Iran like Chabahar, it was discussed.
The delegation appreciated the facilities at JNPT and observed that both Iran and India enjoy good bilateral ties which could prosper further with more trade.
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