State-backed India Ports Global Limited (IPGL), operator of Chabahar Port, has called on Afghan businesses and traders to increase imports and exports through the Iranian port, a statement from the Taliban*-controlled Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI) said on Saturday.
Muhammad Anwar Arifi, the Deputy CEO of ACCI held an online meeting with a team from India Ports Global Limited to discuss the commercial advantages of Chabahar port if it were used for trade and transit between the countries of the region.
The meeting was also attended by Afghan businesses and traders.
During the discussion, a technical team from IPGL gave a presentation underscoring the strategic importance of the Gulf of Oman port for the participants, the ACCI statement noted.
Further, the Indian team called on the Afghan chamber to "encourage" the use of port as it sought cooperation from ACCI in promoting the use of the Iranian port.
Arifi described Chabahar as an important port for trade and transit for Afghanistan and Central Asian nations.
Further, he urged the Indian company to remove obstacles in the use of the port for Afghan traders as well as called for more facilities at the port.
Last month, IPGL and Iran's Ports and Maritime Organisation (PMO) signed a 10-year contract with a renewable clause for the development of Chabahar Port.
Under the pact, the Indian company would equip and operationalise the Shahid Beheshti Terminal of Chabahar Port, which New Delhi acquired from Iran in 2016.
*under UN sanctions for terror activities