Indian envoy reaches agreement with Zahedan Chamber of Commerce’s officials

In a meeting between the Indian ambassador to Iran and the Zahedan Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors, the sides stressed further cooperation and expansion of bilateral ties, AVA diplomatic reports.

In the meeting, Zahedan Chamber’s President Abdolhakim Rigi Mirjave presented a report about Sistan and Baluchestan Province in which the trade exchanges between Iran and India were in 2012 was announced to be $6.4b. “Comparing this with the figure calculated for the same period in the previous year, the significant increase indicates the two countries enormous capacities and potentials to enhance their trade exchanges,” he added.

Commenting on the unique position of Chabahar FTZ, he reiterated that Chabahar FTZ and access to international waters as the main potentials of the South Eastern Iranian province. He also expressed hope quick steps can be taken to expand bilateral exchanges.

Indian Ambassador to Iran D.P. Srivastava, for his part, emphasized his country’s efforts to participate in the exchanges and increasing the trade volume of the FTZ, and said his country has decided to implement pilot shipments from Chabahr to the border region of Milak.

“India is willing to investigate in transit and trade development and also making use of Chabahar port’s capacities to supply demands from other provinces in Iran,” he added.

The Indian diplomat called on Chabahr FTZ to more active as he reiterated that to India, commodity transit through Chabahr will be more economic compared with Bandar Abbas due its shorter distance. In addition, he said his country suggests Chabahr be named as Food Special Economic Port.

Mohammad-Ali Neshati, a member of Zahedan Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors, also presented a report on Sistan and Baluchestan’s exports and mining capacities, and called for an expansion of bilateral interactions with India. “Sistan and Baluchestan and India have had close trade ties for a long time, and given the status of the province, a solution needs to be found by the authorities to expand the commercial ties,” Neshati added.