TEHRAN (ECOIDEAL)- Beijing has voiced interest to partner in the project to link Chabahar port in Iran to Pakistan's port of Gwadar, Managing Director of Chabahar Free Zone Abdolrahim Kordi stated.
Kordi said that the Iranian and Pakistani ports are not rivals and can cooperate.
The official said that Gwader has no capacity to connect with the northern countries and its target markets, while the case is different with Chabahar.
He added that in order to use Chabahar port’s capacity, the Iranian government has taken different steps so far, as the first phase of the Chabahar Port development project was opened by the president about a month ago.
The managing director of Chabahar Free Zone said due to the presence of the Chabahar free zone behind the port, in addition to unloading and loading and distribution operations, there will be the possibility of developing an industrial zone in the nearby Chabahar Free Zone.
Kordi emphasized “two petrochemical and steel industries are already active in the region.”
In response to the question whether the opening of first phase of the Chabahar port means its activities have started by now, Kordi said “Chabahar port started its work about a month ago.”
Gwadar Port, located South of Pakistan and 72 km from the Chabahar Port, is part of the joint Chinese-Pakistani corridor project aimed at connecting the eastern regions of China to the warm waters of the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean.
Chabahar, as Iran’s sole oceanic port, is the shortest route for Afghanistan and Central Asian countries to have access to Indian Ocean.
Source: Farsnews