Teheran, December 26 - Neftegaz.RU. Opening an office in Iran, India Ports Global Limited (IPGL) has officially taken over the operations at phase 1 of Shahid Beheshti Port in Iran’s southeastern port city of Chabahar, IRNA reported quoting director of Iran’s Ports and Maritime Organization (PMO) for ports and economic affairs.
According to Mohammad-Ali Hassanzadeh, under the contract between PMO and IPGL, India would operate phase 1 of Shahid Beheshti Port for a term of one and a half year.
«The short-term lease then will be extended to a 10-year lease if the 2 sides agree to do so», the official said. Hassanzadeh further noted that the short-term lease would see IPGL to conduct operations like loading and unloading, equipment supply and marketing at the mentioned port.
The IPGL office is opened concurrent with the 1st meeting of Chabahar Agreement Committee’s parties to monitor the implementation of the trilateral agreement.
Delegations from India, Afghanistan and Iran visited various parts of Shahid Beheshti Port to assess the infrastructure and investment opportunities as well as commercial and transit facilities of Chabahar Port.
With the US bringing the ports in Iran under the sanctions regime against the Gulf nation, New Delhi has conveyed to Washington the importance of the Chabahar project, saying it can be a major link for trade with war-ravaged Afghanistan.
