Thursday, November 9 2023 18:05

ArmInfo.Armenia is in talks to join Iran's Chabahar Port as it seeks access to India and other  Asian nations. Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Mnatsakan Safaryan said in an interview with The Economic Times.

" The Armenian delegation recently participated in a high-level  meeting in Mumbai on Chabahar Port utilisation," Safaryan said. "We  are in talks to join the port and hope that the connectivity between  the Chabahar Port and INSTC is completed soon. There are indications  that this link will be concluded within a year," Safaryan said.

The source notes that "The South Caucasian country is hoping for  early linkages between the International North South Transport  Corridor (INSTC) and the Chabahar Port for seamless connectivity." 

 "Armenia's eagerness to join the Chabahar Port comes in the backdrop  of the trilateral grouping of India, Iran and Armenia. During a  meeting in the Armenian capital Yerevan this April, the three sides    discussed economic projects and regional communication channels.   Armenia, whose ties with New Delhi are acquiring strategic  dimensions, has proposed the Persian Gulf-Black Sea corridor via Iran  parallel to INSTC or part of a new branch of INSTC to connect Indian  traders with Russia and Europe," ET writes.  It is noted that The  Armenian government has also developed the 'Crossroads of Peace'  project that has communication development between the countries of  the region as a key essence of the peace agenda, which would bring  enormous benefits to the larger region, including India.  Armenia has  recorded strong economic growth notwithstanding the war in the  region. Describing Armenia as a natural partner for India, the deputy  foreign minister said, "We are very similar in many ways.  Currently,  there is a boom in the construction sector in Armenia and we are in  talks with Indian companies. Two leading construction companies from  India could be executing projects in Armenia".  Besides, there has  been an increase in the number of Indians working in Armenia.  The  minister said that the two sides are in talks to conclude an  agreement that will regulate mobility issues. "We are also in talks  to launch direct flights between India and Armenia and, hopefully,  flights can be launched next year," he said.  Yet another area of  partnership is the information technology sector-both Armenia and  India claim human capital in this sector. IT professionals from India  and Armenia in the Silicon Valley are in touch, exploring avenues of  collaboration, Safaryan said, ET reports.  Let us recall that Iran  intends to connect its ports in the Gulf of Oman (port of Chabahar)  and the Persian Gulf (ports of Bandar Abbas, Imam Khomeini and  Khorramshahr) in the south of the country with ports of the Black and  Caspian Seas through the Iranian railway network. Connecting the Gulf  to the Black Sea will connect four key sea basins, namely the Gulf of  Oman, the Caspian Sea (Iran-Azerbaijan), the Black Sea (Georgia,  Bulgaria) and the Mediterranean Sea (Greece). In the South Caucasus,  Armenia is the only country that is a member of the EAEU and  therefore serves as a direct bridge between Iran and the bloc, which  clearly highlights the importance of the international transport and  transit corridor of the Persian Gulf- Black Sea for Iran.

Back in March 2021, the Indian Ambassador to Iran stated that the  country was going to include Armenia in the North-South transport  corridor being established through the Iranian port of Chabahar.  In  August of the same year, then Acting Foreign Minister Armen Grigoryan  said at the Indian Embassy in Armenia,  that Yerevan was closely  following India's active involvement in the North-South international  transport corridor project and India's interest in the development of  the Chabahar port, and was ready to participate in the implementation  of this program.

In May of this year, by decision of the Prime Minister, an  interdepartmental working group was established in the Republic of  Armenia, which should consider the issues of launching an  international multimodal high-speed route and carrying out operator  activities in the Iranian port of Chabahar. In June, the head of the  Ministry of Economy Vahan Kerobyan said that Armenia could become an  operator in the Iranian port of Chabahar