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Iran’s Valfajr Shipping Company is operating a regular container shipping line from south-eastern Chabahar Port to various ports in India, completing a total of 15 trips in the last 3 months. And the shipping company is looking forward to more cargo transportation between India and Iran.
In January 2019, Iran and India inaugurated the second direct shipping route which passes through Mumbai, Mundra, Kandla, Chabahar, and finally Bandar Abbas in southern Iran. Subsequently, in May 2022, Iran’s Ports and Maritime Organization (PMO) announced the launch of three direct container shipping lines from Chabahar Port to Nhava Sheva and Kandla ports in India, and the Jebel Ali Port in UAE.
“Valfajr Shipping Company has reduced the time of cargo transportation on the route from the southern ports of the Persian Gulf to Chabahar while reducing the freight rate and improving the schedules,” he said.
Abbas Kabousi, Spokesperson for Valfajr Shipping Company
Via the aforesaid routes, India can ship goods to Afghanistan and Persian Gulf nations as well as the countries in Central Asia, while being able to bypass Pakistan. Iran has awarded India the project for installing and operating modern loading and unloading equipment including mobile harbour cranes in Shahid Beheshti Port in Chabahar.
The strategic Chabahar port in southeastern Iran is the only ocean port on the Makran coast and it has a special place in the country’s economic affairs. Back in September 2021, Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had called on Central Asian countries to benefit from Chabahar Port capacities for expanding their trade in the region.
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