India celebrates ‘Chabahar Day’ to promote INSTC link to Central Asian markets

INSTC is India’s vision and initiative to reduce the time taken for export-import shipments to reach Russia and Europe, and enter the central Asian markets. The Chabahar Port, located in Iran, is the commercial transit center for the region, especially Central Asia.

Union minister of ports, shipping and waterways and AYUSH Sarbanand Sonwal in his address stated that India’s vision is to make Shahid Beheshti Port at Chabahar a transit hub and linking it to INSTC to reach out to Central Asian countries. He called upon businesses and logistics companies to utilise the incentives of the Shahid Beheshti Port and Chabahar Free Trade Zone. “We urge all the representatives and stakeholders to come forward with suggestions to reduce the transportation time and cost further to make a cheaper, shorter, faster and more reliable route from India to Iran and Central Asia”, he added.

Delegates from Central Asian countries highlighted how Chabahar link with INSTC can play a vital role in boosting Exim trade in their regions and its potential to further boost development in the landlocked countries. The day-long event also witnessed several presentations and government-to-business sessions. 

Besides Sarbananda Sonowal, minister of state in the MoPSW Shripad Yesso Naik, ambassador of Kazakhstan Nurlan Zhalgasbayev, Kyrgyzstan ambassador Asein Isaev. Tajikistan ambassador Lukmon Bobokalonzoda, Turkmenistan ambassador Shalar Geldynazarov, Uzbekistan ambassador Dilshod Akhatov, deputy of port and economic affairs in the PMO Jalil Eslami, consul general  of Afghanistan Zakia Wardak, consul general of the Islamic Republic of Iran  A M Alikhani, advisor to the minister and head of the centre for international affairs of ministry of road and urban development of Iran Masoud Ostad Hossein, chairman of Indian Ports Association Rajeev Jalota and MD of IPGL Sunil Mukundan also graced the event.