IRAN NEWS ECONOMIC DESK

TEHRAN – Director General of Ports and Maritime Organization (PMO) for Market Development Affairs Mohammad-Ali Saeedipour says India’s performance in Chahbahar Port in terms of operation and investment is positive and favorable.

Touching upon operations in Shahid Beheshti Port of Chahbahar with presence of Indians, he said that the project has grown by 60 percent, adding that it is important that Iran, as one party in the contract, should know what it wants from Indians and what it pursues from presence of those investors in the country as well as materialization of its goals in a certain period of time.

Saeedipour went on to say that at the current condition that the country is under the maximum pressures of sanctions and some countries despite their claims of supporting Iran have left Iran, India is the only country in the world that has loudly announced it will continue cooperation with Iran and it sill continues and Iranians should not lose this opportunity of Indians’ presence in Chahbahar Port.

He reiterated that Indians have been faithful to their promises over Chahbahar Port, reiterating it has not been only for the sake of Iran but it has been for the sake of their own interests, too.

Saeedipour noted that India’s policy is to protect its relation with Iran as a powerful regional country and to have access to the regional markets via this country.

He added that in the latest meeting with Indian partners, both sides reached good agreements, and the good bilateral relation is growing.

He said during the meeting both sides reiterated expansion of cooperation and implementing undertakings.

Saeedipour noted that Indians claim that they have no restrictions for cooperation with Iran in Chahbahar and it is a strong point for expansion of Chahbahar.

He emphasized that Indians’ $150m of finance for investment in Shahid Beheshti Port is ready, adding that Indian party is pursuing the transfer of the finance but so far Iranian banks have not been able to take measures to attract the credit, and Iranian banks have confessed that it has been their problem in attracting India’s finance.

He further said they are working to resolve the problem by replacing another bank to attract the finance as Indians have welcomed the idea, noting that in case Iranian banks’ problems are resolved today, Indian’s finance will be ready tomorrow.

Saeedipour also called for authentic analysis and reflection of developments about Chahbahar and it should not turn as a tool for enemies to strike a blow on the trend of development in the port.

He also hailed Indians for cooperation, adding that the current progress in the port is indebted to Indians’ sincere cooperation and the problem for providing necessary equipment and facilities for the port has been resolved, and equipment worth $85m has been purchased for the development of the port.

He expressed hope the purchased equipment is imported to Shahid Beheshti Port in Chahbahar in six months.

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IRAN NEWS ECONOMIC DESK

TEHRAN – Minister of Roads and Urban Development Mohammad Eslami yesterday met visiting Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and conferred with him on expansion of bilateral cooperation.

After the meeting, Eslami said both sides discussed ways of expanding economic cooperation in different fields which were discussed during the joint commission on Sunday.

He added that both countries have reached some important agreements in order to accelerate cooperation in transit and transportation as Chahbahar Port was the focal point because it is the only Iranian port with access to the ocean.

Eslami went on to say that in recent years works on developing Chahbahar Port has intensified and the volume of activities have tripled comparing to 2017. He went on to say that regarding the interaction between Iran and India, India expects the volume to increase.

Eslami noted that currently Chahbahar Port has capacity around 11m tons but only 20 20 25 percent of its capacity is exploited.

He also said that during the meeting they discussed the agreement with Afghanistan, adding that Iran has accepted to lower the tariff for road transportation for Afghanistan, adding that India’s shipping has also provided condition to lower tariff which will definitely boost attraction for using Chahbahar Port.

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