♤ Chabahar Port was inaugurated by the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran H.E. Mr Hassan Rouhani on December 3 in the presence of Ministers from India, Afghanistan and the region.

♤ President Hassan Rouhani, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, paid his first State Visit to India from 15-17 February 2018.

4.3. The Chabahar Port

♤ Trilateral Transit and Trade Agreement signed in May 2016 between India, Iran and Afghanistan.

♤ Under the agreement signed between India and Iran in May 2016 , India is to equip and operate two berths in Chabahar Port Phase-I with capital investment of USD 85.21 million and annual revenue expenditure of USD 22.95 million on a 10-year lease.

♤ Chabahar port's location on the south-eastern coast of Iran is expected to open up greater opportunities for promotion of trade and commerce, especially from the ports along India’s western coast, with Iran, Afghanistan, Central Asia and beyond.

♤ India's participation in the development of Chabahar Port will provide India an alternative and reliable access route into Afghanistan utilizing India’s earlier investment in Zaranj- Delaram road built in Afghanistan, and also a reliable and more direct sea-road access route into Central Asian Region.

♤ The first shipment of wheat assistance to Afghanistan was realised though Chabahar port in November 2017. This has demonstrated that Chabahar port is a viable and secure alternative for promoting regional connectivity among India, Iran and Afghanistan and possibly to Central Asia.

♤ The port in the Sistan-Balochistan province on the energy-rich nation’s southern coast is easily accessible from India’s western coast and is increasingly seen as a counter to Pakistan’s Gwadar Port, which is being developed with Chinese investment and is located at distance of around 80 kms from Chabahar.

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