Linking Chabahar, Gwadar ports to ensure prosperity in the region: Iran envoy

Ambassador Seyed Mohammad Ali Hosseini during an interview with Pakistani newspaper ‘Business Recorder’ said Gwadar and  Chabahar are two important ports, adding that if they become more active, the two ports will bring regional progress and prosperity.

“Some are trying to present these two ports as competitors to each other, while we do not take it as a competition but a compliment to each other,” he asserted, adding that the potential of the two ports could be utilized better by connectivity through rails.

He said Pakistan was working on the infrastructure of Gwadar port to boost economic activities, while Iran had also specific programs to make Chabahar port more active.

He said Iran had announced its readiness to provide electricity for Gwadar port.

“We believe more progress of these ports will bring prosperity in the region and the trade volume will also increase automatically. In fact, we see progress and security of Pakistan as progress and security of Iran,” the Iranian envoy said. He said the people of the two countries, especially at the border side can take benefit from the trade activity. At present, he said the trade volume between Pakistan and Iran was $1.3 billion, but due to Covid-19, the volume went down as the pandemic had badly affected the overall economic situation across the world. In view of existing potential, he added that the two-way trade could be increased even further. He identified various fields for investment between the two countries, such as energy, gas, electricity, and oil.