India has sent a ship of wheat to Iran to be transited to Afghanistan in what appears to be a dry run of a new multi-modal trade route that dodges Pakistan.
India says its development of the Iranian port of Chabahar as part of its ambitious bid to access Central Asia and Afghanistan is on track despite problems in procuring equipment from Western manufacturers.
India says the agreement for Chabahar Port is finalized and a global port company has been formed.
Iran plans to hold an international conference on development and investment opportunities of Makran coasts, southeast of the country, with the participation of 20 foreign companies.
India is intrigued by the idea of establishing a sea trade link with Iran and Oman through the Iranian port of Chabahar.
Throughput at the country’s 28 ports stood at 211.5 tons through the end of August, a rise of 26.9 million tons, which show a 16.3% rise compared to volumes handled in the first eight months of 2015.
Afghanistan says given the recent facilities provided for investment in Iran’s southeastern port city of Chabahar, 150 Afghan traders have expressed willingness to invest in the free trade zone.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi voiced determination to implement the agreements signed between the two countries, particularly a project to develop Iran’s southeastern port city of Chabahar.