Kazakhstan to Invest in Shahid Rajaee Port

TEHRAN (Iran News) Speaking to an IRNA reporter on Tuesday during a press conference held on the sidelines of the International Summit of Governors of Caspian Littoral States in Rasht, Saeid Rasouli said:

“Today, this summit was held in Rasht at the initiative of the Islamic Republic of Iran, with the participation of the Foreign Minister, the Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts, the governors of coastal provinces including Hormozgan and Sistan-Baluchestan, and many local, national, and international officials.”

He added that the Ports and Maritime Organization is taking the opportunity to pursue bilateral and multilateral cooperation with Caspian neighbors during this summit. “In terms of transit, the Islamic Republic of Iran offers a strategic corridor that provides Central Asian countries with access to open waters and the Persian Gulf.” “Kazakhstan ”

Rasouli emphasized that Iran’s northern ports currently operate with a capacity of over 30 million tons. He noted that a recent meeting was held in Makhachkala to form a Caspian Sea maritime consortium with the participation of Russia and Iran. “Kazakhstan ”

He continued: “Several neighboring countries have shown interest in investing in our ports. Soon, we will witness the signing of Kazakhstan’s investment agreement at Shahid Rajaee Port, and we are also in negotiations with several other countries.”

Rasouli stated that Iran’s coastal border stretches approximately 5,800 kilometers. “In the Caspian Sea, we hold the second-largest fleet after Russia, significantly ahead of neighboring countries in terms of fleet size. Therefore, we must make maximum use of current capacities, existing investments, and our ongoing development programs.”

The Managing Director of the Ports and Maritime Organization said that declining water levels in the Caspian Sea in recent years pose a threat to the depth of Iran’s coasts and commercial docks. “One of our important cooperation topics with neighboring Caspian states is managing this phenomenon. We are holding continuous expert-level and managerial meetings with our Caspian partners to address this challenge while expanding our collaborative capacities.”

The first summit of governors from the coastal provinces of Caspian littoral states, held under the slogan “Caspian Sea: A Bridge of Friendship and Regional Development,” began this morning (Tuesday, November 17, 2025) in Rasht with the presence of high-ranking Iranian and foreign officials.

According to IRNA, the two-day summit—hosted by Iran—aims to strengthen regional cooperation, boost economic interaction, and enhance coordination on sustainable development and environmental protection in the world’s largest enclosed body of water. Delegations from nine foreign regions and five Iranian provinces are participating.

The summit will continue on Tuesday and Wednesday, November 17 and 18, focusing on strengthening regional cooperation, expanding economic, cultural, and tourism links, and fostering synergy among the coastal provinces of the five Caspian littoral states.