Publish Date: 25 August 2018 - 18:16

Chabahar, Aug 25, IRNA - Iran's strategic port of Chabahar in the south of Sistan and Baluchestan, is one of the most important communication bridges for the transit of goods from India to Afghanistan.

For the first time over the past 40 years, Behshad, a ship with 645 containers weighing 14,700 tons arrived at the port of Chabahar from the port of Kandla.

The arrival of wheat ships from India to Chabahar port lasts about two to two and a half days and after the arrival to Chabahar, and the trucks of wheat were sent through the transit routes of Chabahar, Nikshahr, Iranshahr, Khash, Zahedan and Zabul and Milak border crossing-point to Afghanistan.

Launch of the first phase of Chabahar port development project in the previous year has provided the ground for large vessels up to 100,000 tons, where so far, eight ships carrying a transit wheat load and a ship carrying beans to Afghanistan have docked in this port.

Over last year, nine ships, including eight wheat cargo ships and a ship with 4,825 containers, weighing 110,625 tons from India, entered Chabahar port and then Afghanistan.

A 103-percent increase in container handling and loading operations at Chabahar port this year is an example of investors' interest in using this port.

The Chabahar harbor as one of the country's major ports and the only Iranian oceanic port outside of the Strait of Hormuz has a very good strategic position on a global four-way route that can promote the trade and transportation of the south-east of the country, and especially exports and imports of Indian goods to Afghanistan.

Chabahar port, located in Sistan-Baluchistan Province, is of great strategic utility for India. It lies outside the Persian Gulf and is accessed from India’s western coast.

India is to equip and operate two berths in Chabahar Port’s Phase I with a capital investment of about $85 million and annual revenue expenditure of $23 million on a 10-year lease.

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