India Pitches Inclusion of Chabahar Port in Key Int’l Corridor

EghtesadOnline: India has proposed the inclusion of Chabahar Port in the International North-South Transport Corridor, the country’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said on Thursday, expressing hope that member states involved with INSTC will agree on expanding membership of this project.

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06 March 2021

In his address on “Chabahar Day” at the Maritime India Summit 2021, Jaishankar said the shift in the fulcrum of global economic growth toward Asia is creating unprecedented opportunities for connectivity in the region, Press Trust of India reported.

He asserted that India’s designation of Chabahar Day reflects its strong commitment to enhancing regional connectivity.

Jaishankar said India has also proposed the inclusion of Chabahar, Iran’s only oceanic port, in the INSTC route.

“INSTC is an important trade project, wherein India is partnering with 12 countries to establish an economic corridor,” he said.

The International North-South Transport Corridor is a 7,200-km multimodal transport project for moving freight among India, Iran, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Central Asia and Europe.

"We also welcome the interest of Uzbekistan and Afghanistan to join the multilateral corridor project. Establishing an eastern corridor through Afghanistan would maximize its potential," he said.

"I am hopeful that during the INSTC Coordination Council meeting, member states would agree to the expansion of INSTC route to include Chabahar Port and also decide on expanding the membership of this project."

Regional Connectivity

Jaishankar noted that as the world goes through a fundamental re-balancing, correcting many distortions of the past, it is only natural that connectivity should be central to that exercise.

"There is a huge infrastructure deficit in the region, which needs to be met to fulfil the growing aspirations of our people," he asserted.

Noting that in the modern age, the correlation between connectivity and economic growth has got even more pronounced, Jaishankar said growth in trade, commerce, industrial development and technological advancement has gone hand in hand with ease of connecting.

“Maritime connectivity, in particular, has played a significant role in creating regional corridors for trade and economic linkages, as well as cultural and intellectual exchanges over the centuries,” he said, adding that they too assume a new prominence in contemporary times, for being more competitive, seamless and greener.

The Indian minister noted that the access of landlocked economies to maritime movements has been a focus of recent initiatives.

“The government of India, recognizing the importance of regional connectivity, made a landmark decision to undertake an overseas port investment in Chabahar,” he said.

“While this project had been under discussion for some time, it was during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Iran in 2016 that a trilateral agreement to establish an International Transport and Transit Corridor was signed by India, Iran and Afghanistan.”

Jaishankar said transport and transit corridor is intended to ensure the unhindered flow of commerce throughout the region and create a safe and reliable route to trade initially with Afghanistan, and thereafter with Central Asia.

“The establishment and operations of India Ports Global Ltd at Shahid Beheshti Port in Chabahar is the practical realization of this important initiative,” he said and lauded Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and his team, as well as his Iranian partners, for the steady growth of port operations.

Jaishankar said that in a short while, they have established both its credibility and relevance.

"Today's event reflects India's strong commitment to work together with all regional stakeholders to enhance connectivity in our region and provide unhindered access to the sea to landlocked Central Asian countries through Chabahar," he said.

The event also commemorates five years of the signing of the tripartite agreement on establishment of a Trilateral Transport and Transit Corridor.

“The agreement is a fitting tribute to the rich civilizational, cultural and trade links among India, Afghanistan, Iran and Central Asia,” he said.

Facilitating Delivery of Humanitarian Assistance

Jaishankar highlighted that Chabahar Port has not only emerged as a commercial transit hub for the region, but also facilitated the delivery of humanitarian assistance, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.

"The port is part of our shared commitment toward peace, stability and prosperity of the people of Afghanistan. India has utilized Chabahar Port to ship 75,000 tons of wheat as humanitarian food assistance to Afghanistan in September 2020," he said.

“India also assisted Iran to fight the worst ever locust invasion in the last 25 years by supplying 25 metric tons of Malathion in June 2020, again through Chabahar Port.”

The second batch of 25 metric tons has recently reached the port, he added.

The Indian minister said that besides Indian food exports, the port has handled several shipments and transshipments from Russia, Brazil, Thailand, Germany, Ukraine and the UAE.

Jaishankar said the search for efficient trade routes and better connectivity has been one of the powerful driving forces of history and determines the prospects of many nations, regions and civilizations over time.

The virtual event, besides Jaishankar and Mandaviya, also saw the participation of ministers from Afghanistan, Armenia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia and Uzbekistan.

The location of Chabahar Port has strategic advantage and high potential to provide connectivity among India, Iran, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and other Commonwealth of Independent States countries, and boost trade.

Located in Sistan-Baluchestan Province on the energy-rich Iran's southern coast, the port can be easily accessed from India's western coast, bypassing Pakistan.