India to send high-level delegation to Chabahar early next year

New Delhi, Dec 14: India has agreed to send a high-level delegation to Chabahar in Iran next year, following talks between India, Iran and Uzbekistan on joint use of Chabahar Port on Tuesday.
During the Second Trilateral Working Group Meeting between the three nations, held in virtual format, the Indian side made a presentation on the operations of Chabahar Port.

India informed that the Indian company, 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 w.e.f. 24.12.2018.
Since then, it has handled 160 vessels, 14,420 TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units) and 3.2 million tons of bulk and general cargo.
The Shahid Behesti Terminal, Chabahar Port, has handled shipments and trans-shipments from various countries including Russia, Brazil, Thailand, Germany, Ukraine, Oman, Romania, Bangladesh, Australia, Kuwait, Uzbekistan and UAE.
The participants underlined the important role played by Chabahar Port during humanitarian crises as well as in enhancing regional connectivity.
They also took note of the increase in transit traffic between Central Asia and South Asia through the Shahid Behesti Terminal, Chabahar Port, and discussed further development of the transportation corridor.
Upon the invitation of the Iranian side, the Indian side agreed to send a high level delegation to Chabahar next year. It was decided to hold the third session of the trilateral working group meeting in India at a mutually convenient date, an official statement said.
The Meeting was jointly chaired by Dr. Sanjeev Ranjan, Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Government of India; Dr. Ali Akbar Safaei, Secretary, Deputy Minister and Managing Director, Ports and Maritime Organization of the Islamic Republic of Iran; and Mr. Abdossamad Mumen, Secretary, Ministry of Transportation of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Meanwhile, according to Iranian website Irna, the Iranian Deputy Minister of Road and Urban Development Ali-Akbar Safaei said on Tuesday that Iran welcomes Uzbekistan’s decision to invest in the development of Chabahar port.
Safaei made the remarks in a tripartite meeting of Iran, India and Uzbekistan.
He noted that boosting relations with neighbouring countries tops the agenda of Iran’s foreign policy.
Uzbekistan’s joining the Chabahar Agreement will pave the way for transit of goods between India, Iran and Uzbekistan, the official said.
Noting that enforcement of the Chabahar Agreement has significantly increased port traffic in Chabahar over the past few years, Safaei said that the port will become more active with the all-out cooperation of India, Iran, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and other Central Asian countries.