Iran, India, Afghanistan to ink trilateral MoU

Iran, India and Afghanistan are due to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the development of the transit port of Chabahar soon.

The MoU will be endorsed during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's upcoming visits to Iran on Monday.

Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani is slated to arrive in Tehran on Monday to meet the Iranian officials on bilateral ties and cooperation and attend a trilateral meeting with Modi.

Modi is making a first trip to Iran since he took office in 2016, aimed at deepening energy ties. During the visit, India will sign a contract to build and operate the port of Chabahar on the southern Iranian coast that is aimed at boosting connectivity with Afghanistan and central Asia.

Afghanistan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Hekmat Karzai said in April that Tehran, Kabul, and New Delhi are going to finalize the deal on the development of Iran’s Chabahar port very soon.

Speaking to reporters at the Heart of Asia Conference in New Delhi, Karzai said the joint project is an important step towards promoting trade and investment ties among the three countries.

Meantime, Board Member of Chabahar Free Trade Zone Abdol Rahim Kordi said China is getting ready to build an industrial town in the port city of Chabahar southeast of Iran.

Speaking to reporters, Rahim Kordi said a delegation of Cockerill Maintenance and Ingénierie visited the port city of Chabahar to launch the Chinese industrial town.

According to the Iranian official, the industrial town will have 20 industrial units among others.

Chabahar is a free port on the coast of the Gulf of Oman. It is situated on the Makran coast of the Sistan and Baluchestan Province and is officially designated as a free trade and industrial zone by the Iranian government.

Due to its free trade zone status, the city has increased in significance in international trade.

EA