Armenian company will transport cargo through Chabahar, but tariffs are not yet known: Minec

An Armenian company has reached an agreement to register in the Free Trade Zone of Iran's Chabahar port and start logistics activities. The Armenian Ministry of Economy informed Sputnik Armenia in response to a written inquiry.

The registration of the Armenian company in the Chabahar FTZ was the result of signing a memorandum of understanding and cooperation between Armenian companies and the Iranian side.

The ministry recalled that the memorandum was signed following the working visit of the Armenian delegation headed by Deputy Minister of Economy Narek Hovakimian to Iran and, in particular, to Chabahar port on November 11-14, 2024.

At the same time, Yerevan does not yet have data on the cost of the planned cargo transportation.

“To understand the indicator of economic efficiency, it is necessary to carry out cargo transportation in a certain quantity. Works are being carried out in this direction,” the Ministry of Economic Development noted.

In response to our inquiry it is also noted that Armenia is interested in the realization of the project of trade corridor with the connection of Iran and India. Moreover, Yerevan is working on organizing the process of cargo transportation to India and China and in the opposite direction through the Iranian port of Chabahar.

The Ministry explains that Armenia is actively working on diversification and creation of new logistic routes. In this regard, in the context of ensuring access to promising markets, Yerevan considers it important to realize cargo transportation through the port of Chabahar.

In addition, the Armenian side believes that cargo transportation through the port of Chabahar, including regular sea cargo shipments from India to Armenia and in the opposite direction, will significantly reduce the time of cargo transportation. This will create favorable conditions for increasing the volumes of mutual trade.

To remind, in May 2024 Yerevan planned to open a new trade route through the Iranian port of Chabahar to connect Armenia with India.

This project was to become an important link in strengthening the regional logistics network. The idea of creating the route emerged in 2023, when an interdepartmental working group was set up on the instructions of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to organize cargo transportation and open an operating point in Chabahar.

However, the deadline for launching the route was postponed indefinitely. The route, according to the project, envisages delivery of cargoes from the Indian port of Mumbai to Chabahar, then by land to Armenia and from there to Georgia. Georgian ports could become the starting point for deliveries to Europe, and via the Verkhny Lars checkpoint to Russia.

Reprinted from https://am.sputniknews.ru/