Tehran, August 21 (MRUD NEWS)—The India's Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, at the head of a high-ranking delegation to Iran met with Iran Minister of Roads and Urban Development, Rostam Ghasemi, the managing director of Ports and Maritime Organization (PMO) of Iran, Ali Akbar Safaei, and other officials at Iran's Ministry of Roads and Urban Development.

The Indian delegation arrived in Chabahar yesterday in order to visit the port terminals, equipment, facilities, and the port's development plans.

The visit had been arranged with the decree of India's Prime Minister, Narendera Modi, to strengthen bilateral ties in transit and trade, Sonowal added. 

The two sides highlighted the unique importance of Chabahar Port in the region. Particularly for India, the ocean Port safely facilitates freight transit from India to Russia and CIS countries as it is enormously economical in terms of time and costs for transit.

Iran's Minister proposed for concluding the initial agreement of Iran and India for Chabahar into a long-term agreement before long for accelerating cooperation in Chabahar Port.

Iran expects to have part of the large volume of trades between India and Russia to increase traffic in Chabahar. 

Similarly, India attempts to establish closer ties and foster regional participation through Chabahar.

The Indians tried hard to promote the position of Chabahar Port for higher connectivity particularly among the CIS countries as Mumbai hosted the Chabahar Day conference in July 31 to mark the Chabahar link to International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), stated Dhamendar Gaddam, India's ambassador to Tehran. 

The two sides also signed a MoU regarding the mutual recognition of the seafarers' certificates of competency in unlimited service area between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran as per the Seafarers' Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) Convention. 

The Indian delegation is accompanied by Sunil Mukundan, the Managing Director of India Ports Global Ltd (IPGL), Unmesh Sharad Wagh, Deputy Chairman in Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), and other Indian experts and officials.