RAJKOT: In a significant more to operationalize the new strategic transit route to Kabul, bypassing Pakistan, the first shipment from India to Chabahar port in Iran from Kandla port, now renamed
Deendayal Port
, was sent on Sunday.
External affairs minister
Sushma Swaraj and her Afghan counterpart Salahuddin Rabbani joined the ceremony via video conference.
“The shipment of wheat is a landmark moment as it will pave the way for operationalization of the Chabahar port as an alternate, reliable and robust connectivity for Afghanistan,” the ministry of external affairs (MEA) said in a statement. Six more wheat shipments will be sent to
Afghanistan
over the next few months.
In June, India and Afghanistan had launched an air freight corridor between the two countries to boost trade as Pakistan has been refusing land transit access through its territory.
Swaraj and Rabbani welcomed the fact that this is the first shipment that will be going to Afghanistan through the Chabahar port after the trilateral agreement on Establishment of International Transport and Transit Corridor was signed during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Iran in May 2016, the MEA said.
“I am extremely delighted that today we have joined on a momentous occasion for the people of our three countries and the region,” Swaraj said, adding that the wheat that is leaving the Indian shores is a gift from the people of India to Afghan brethren.
“The consignment of 16,318 metric tonnes of wheat in 635 containers, is expected to reach Chabahar in two-and-a-half days,” said
Ravi Parmar
, chairman, Deendayal Port Trust.
The Government of India (GOI) has formed a company Indian Ports Global Pvt Ltd, which has DPT and
Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) as equity stake holders.
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