PMO News Portal - Mohammad Rastad’s speech on the occasion of
Chabahr day at the Second edition of International Maritime Summit-2021 in the
virtual format
First of all, I would like to thank the Ministry of Ports,
Shipping and Waterways of India for holding the Chabahar Day event. I am confident
that the path of cooperation between Iran and India regarding the port of
Chabahar will grant significant achievements for the two countries. In
addition, Afghanistan, as another member of the Tripartite Transit Memorandum
of Understanding known as the Chabahar agreement, will benefit from this
cooperation. I hope to see new members from the countries in the region joining
the Chabahar Transit Memorandum.
Today, ports around the world have undergone substantial
changes in terms of management, investment, leadership and role-playing in
logistics. Traditional ports were merely terminals for changing modes of
transportation, but today's ports can only maintain and enhance their
competitiveness if they act as a link in an integrated, global logistics chain.
Port management has also changed from government and public oriented to local
and even private management, which has awarded a great deal dynamism and
vitality in this industry. In this context, government investment is focused
solely on port infrastructure, and port superstructure and equipment
investments are provided by the private sector. Needless to say, there are many
cases of private sector investment, even in the field of port infrastructure.
In the field of port management, as was anticipated, the private sector plays
the main role. Today, we see global port operators which, regardless of their
nationality, are present in all parts of the world to invest and operate
commercial ports. In addition, large shipping lines invest in ports around the world
and establish their own port terminals. The port industry has faced substantial
changes in recent years, and in order to maintain and increase the market share
of maritime transport, countries must adapt to these developments inevitably.
In the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Ports and Maritime
Organization, as the responsible authority for commercial ports and commercial
shipping, has set out to keep pace with global developments. Today, all Iranian
ports are operated by private operators. We have a record of significant
investments by the private sector in the country's ports. These investments are
not only in the field of equipment supply, but also in the field of
construction of port superstructures such as indoor and outdoor storage
warehouses, grain storage silos, liquid bulk storage tanks, value-added
factories and logistics services. currently, over 330 contracts have been
concluded by the Ports and Maritime Organization of the Islamic Republic with
the private sector in the above mentioned fields. there are even cases of
private sector investment in port infrastructure. Fortunately, this is a
progressing trend in Iranian ports.
One example of the private sector involvement in Iranian
ports is the activities of the Indian company IPGL, in the port of Chabahar as
an investor and port operator. Under a ten-year BOT contract, the Indian
operator will invest $ 85 million to supply Chabahar port equipment.
Fortunately, last month we had the arrival of the first batch of equipment
provided by the Indian operator, including two mobile cranes, and in the next
few days, two more cranes will arrive to the port of Chabahar. We hope that the
rest of the equipment pledged by the Indian operator, including gantry cranes,
RTG and other container equipment, will soon be delivered at Chabahar port.
Chabahar port with its privileged geographical position, can
serve as an intermediary between the coastal countries of the Indian Ocean and
likewise connect the large Indian market to the countries of Central Asia and
Afghanistan. Strategic cooperation between Iran and India in equipping and
managing Chabahar port will grant many benefits to both countries and countries
in the region. In recent years, the Ports and Maritime Organization of Iran has
significantly developed the infrastructure of Chabahar port and increased the
port's capacity from 5.2 million tons to more than 8 million tons per year. In
the second phase of its development plan, the capacity of Chabahar port will
increase to 33 million tons. Fortunately, in recent years, we have always had
an increase in the rate of unloading and loading in Chabahar port, so that an
uprising trend was recorded from less than one million tons of port operations
to more than 3 million tons. The transit of goods between India and Afghanistan
has been facilitated and become operational through the port of Chabahar.
Regular container lines have been established between Chabahar port and Indian
ports. In general, noteworthy favorable conditions have been achieved for the
prosperity of Chabahar port. One of the other key measures that can upgrade
Chabahar port is the connection of the port to the national railway network,
which its project is being carried out at a good pace. Recently, the annexation
of Chabahar port to the free zone has also triggered the port to benefit from
the legal facilities and benefits of the free zones, and it will definitely
have a significant impact on the desirability of the port for the good owners.
Iran-India
cooperation in Chabahar port is a perfect illustration of acceleration in the
development of the port with public and private sector investment. Undoubtedly,
such regional cooperation will activate port capacities and fill in the
transportation gaps in the most optimal way, and all countries in the region
and will enjoy the benefits of smooth-running low-cost logistics. I take this
opportunity to invite all interested countries in the region, to consider
Chabahar port as a distinctive transit hub for their products. We welcome
superstructure investments for the development of logistics activities in the
region.
In the end, I would like to thank the esteemed organizers of
this event, and I hope to see an increase in regional interactions and
cooperation within the framework of joint agreements for the development of
trade and maritime transport and transit of goods.