Chabahar Day was commemorated on the sidelines of the Second
edition of International Maritime Summit-2021 in the virtual format. The event
was attended and addressed by Mr Qudratullah Zaki, Minister of Transport,
Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Mohammad Eslami, Minister of Roads and Urban
Development, Islamic Republic of Iran, Mr. Berik Kamaliev, Deputy Industry and
Infrastructure Development Minister, Republic of Kazakhstan, Mr Oleg N
Ryazantsev, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, Russian Federation and Mr.
Mr Choriyev Jasurbek Ergashevich, Deputy Minister of Transport, Republic of
Uzbekistan. Minister of External Affairs, Dr. S. Jaishankar, addressed the
session.
The meeting was chaired by Shri Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister
of State (Independent Charge) for the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
and Minister of State for Chemical & Fertilizers who also delivered the
keynote address. Secretary (Ports, Shipping and Waterways), Shri Sanjeev Ranjan
delivered welcome remarks.
The ministers stressed on the increasing need for closer
cooperation in the creation of an integrated multi-modal transport system to
enhance regional connectivity. Dr. S Jaishankar recounted the historic visit of
Hon'ble PM to Iran in 2016 which paved the way for Trilateral Agreement between
India, Iran & Afghanistan.
Shri Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of State (Independent
Charge) termed Chabahar port as the “connecting point” for the region to deliver
humanitarian assistance, especially during the COVID pandemic. He also
mentioned Chabahar Port as part of our shared commitment towards peace,
stability and prosperity of the people of Afghanistan. Chabahar has allowed
India to export humanitarian supplies to Kabul and has also helped Afghanistan
diversify its export opportunities. Shri Mandaviya while stressing on enhancing
regional connectivity, stressed the significance of activation of INSTC along
with the proposal to hold the next INSTC Coordination Council Meeting in DVC
format. He informed that till 31st January, 2021, about 123 vessels have
berthed at our terminal. IPGCFZ have handled approximately 13,752 TEUs and 1.8
million tons of bulk and general cargo. Efforts are going on to improve the traffic
at Chabahar Port. Recently two Mobile Harbour Cranes have successfully been
shipped to Iran from Italy via Mumbai in January, 2021. Four more will reach
the port shortly.
Secretary (Ports, Shipping and Waterways), Shri Sanjeev
Ranjan focused on the significance of Indian involvement for development of
Chabahar Port and its achievements. He also stressed the role of Chabahar Port
as a transit hub to support landlocked countries of Central Asia and
Afghanistan by giving access to the open seas, optimizing logistic cost by
bringing in efficiency, and creating a reliable and safe transport corridor.
The Ministerial level opening session was followed by two
webinar sessions which had the presence of eminent personalities and
dignitaries including Mohammad Rastad, Deputy Minister of Roads and Urban
Development and Managing Director, Ports and Maritime Organisation of Iran; Dr
Saeid Rasouli, Vice-Minister for Roads and Urban Development, Chairman of the
Board and President of Railways of the Islamic Republic of Iran (RAI); Dr
Davood Moradian, Director General, Afghanistan’s Institute of Strategic
Studies; Ms Zakia Wardak, Consulate General of the Islamic Republic of
Afghanistan.