Opinion: project to operate Chabahar port  in medium term will  increase Armenia`s transit capacity

ArmInfo.The implementation of the project to operate the port of Chabahar, which is intended to  become a transit hub within the framework of the International North-South Transport Corridor , is a fairly promising project being implemented with Indian funding. Alexandr Zaboev, Head of the Center  for Integration Studies of the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) stated in a conversation with ArmInfo on the sidelines of the Eurasian Development Bank's (EDB)  Annual Meeting and Business Forum in  Almaty. 

He drew attention to the fact that Iran is currently actively  completing the construction of a railway to this port, and there is  already a road. "Therefore, in the long term, after the completion of  the railway construction, there will be an opportunity to increase  cargo flows from this port, and the automobile route can already be  used now. I think there is potential for using this port for transit,  including through Armenia, through the Black Sea region. I believe  that this is a medium-term project. It will not yield results here  and now, but in the medium term, if we work on it, it is a  potentially interesting project that will contribute to increasing  the country's transit potential and realizing Armenia's transport and  logistics capabilities," Mr Zaboev expressed confidence. When asked  to express his attitude to the Armenian government's "Crossroads of  Peace" project, which, from the point of view of many experts, could  turn the country into a kind of "public thoroughfare", the Bank's  expert noted that becoming a "public thoroughfare" for cargo is a  good prospect, since it involves transit." 

And transit, in essence, is the export of transport services, which  contributes to the opening of new jobs and the development of  logistics. If the containers will pass, why not pass through the  roads and railways of the Republic of Armenia. There are also  positive aspects from the point of view of passenger transportation,  since Armenia's potential in terms of attracting international  tourists is huge, and tourist infrastructure is also involves money  that the budget and citizens of the country receive. Therefore, in  this vein, I would consider the phrase "public thoroughfare"  exclusively in a positive sense, because it will provide both work  and money to citizens and the country as a whole," Zaboev summarized. 

Iran intends to connect its ports located in the Gulf of Oman  (Chabahar port) and the Persian Gulf (Bandar Abbas, Imam Khomeini and  Khorramshahr ports) in the south of the country with ports located on  the Black and Caspian Seas through the Iranian railway network.  Connecting the Gulf to the Black Sea will connect four key sea  basins, namely the Gulf of Oman, the Caspian Sea (Iran-Azerbaijan),  the Black Sea (Georgia, Bulgaria) and the Mediterranean Sea (Greece).  In the South Caucasus, Armenia is the only country that is a member  of the EAEU and, therefore, serves as a direct bridge between Iran  and the bloc, which clearly underlines the importance of the Persian  Gulf-Black Sea international transport and transit corridor for Iran.

Back in March 2021, the Indian Ambassador to Iran stated that the   country was going to include Armenia in the North-South transport   corridor being established through the Iranian port of Chabahar.  In   August of the same year, then Acting Foreign Minister Armen Grigoryan   said at the Indian Embassy in Armenia,  that Yerevan was closely   following India's active involvement in the North-South international  transport corridor project and India's interest in the development of  the Chabahar port, and was ready to participate in the implementation  of this program.  In May of this year, by decision of the Prime  Minister, an interdepartmental working group was established in the  Republic of  Armenia, which should consider the issues of launching  an international multimodal high-speed route and carrying out  operator  activities in the Iranian port of Chabahar. In June, the  head of the  Ministry of Economy Vahan Kerobyan said that Armenia  could become an  operator in the Iranian port of Chabahar.  In May  2023, by the decision of the Prime Minister of the Republic of  Armenia, an interdepartmental working group was formed to consider  the launch of an international multimodal high-speed route and the  implementation of operator activities in the Iranian port of  Chabahar. In June of the same year,  then head of the Ministry of  Economy Vahan Kerobyan announced that Armenia could become an  operator in the Iranian port of Chabahar.