The first phase of the Chabahar port in Iran was inaugurated today by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. It has opened a new strategic transit route between Iran, India and Afghanistan. <br/><br/><br/>External Affairs Ministry in a release said, Minister of State for Shipping Pon Radhakrishnan represented India at the inauguration of the Phase-1 of the Shahid Beheshti Port at Chabahar. The Ministry said, during his two day visit to Iran, Mr Radhakrishnan represented India in the 2nd meeting of the India-Iran-Afghanistan Ministerial-level Trilateral Meeting on Chabahar Port Development and involving the respective Ministers of Iran and Afghanistan. <br/>'<br/><br/>In the Trilateral meeting with Iranian Transport Minister Dr Abbas Akhoundi and the Afghanistan Trade and Commerce Minister Mr Humayoon Rasaw, the three sides reviewed and positively assessed the progress in the development of Chabahar Port. They reiterated their commitment to complete and operationalise the Port at the earliest that would contribute to bilateral and regional trade and economic development and also provide alternate access to landlocked Afghanistan to regional and global markets. <br/>'<br/><br/>The three sides also commended the recent joint efforts which led to the transit of first tranche of one lakh ten thousand tonnes of wheat from India to Afghanistan through the Chabahar Port. <br/><br/>The Ministers agreed to further intensify efforts on issues concerning regional connectivity and focusing on Chabahar Port development under the Trilateral Transit and Trade Agreement at the Trilateral Meeting. The completion of the internal procedures on the ratification process by Iran is expected to lead to full and early operationalisation of the Transit and Trade arrangement between the three countries though the Chabahar

<br/>The first phase of the Chabahar port in Iran was inaugurated today by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. It has opened a new strategic transit route between Iran, India and Afghanistan. <br/><br/><br/>External Affairs Ministry in a release said, Minister of State for Shipping Pon Radhakrishnan represented India at the inauguration of the Phase-1 of the Shahid Beheshti Port at Chabahar. The Ministry said, during his two day visit to Iran, Mr Radhakrishnan represented India in the 2nd meeting of the India-Iran-Afghanistan Ministerial-level Trilateral Meeting on Chabahar Port Development and involving the respective Ministers of Iran and Afghanistan. <br/>'<br/><br/>In the Trilateral meeting with Iranian Transport Minister Dr Abbas Akhoundi and the Afghanistan Trade and Commerce Minister Mr Humayoon Rasaw, the three sides reviewed and positively assessed the progress in the development of Chabahar Port. They reiterated their commitment to complete and operationalise the Port at the earliest that would contribute to bilateral and regional trade and economic development and also provide alternate access to landlocked Afghanistan to regional and global markets. <br/>'<br/><br/>The three sides also commended the recent joint efforts which led to the transit of first tranche of one lakh ten thousand tonnes of wheat from India to Afghanistan through the Chabahar Port. <br/><br/>The Ministers agreed to further intensify efforts on issues concerning regional connectivity and focusing on Chabahar Port development under the Trilateral Transit and Trade Agreement at the Trilateral Meeting. The completion of the internal procedures on the ratification process by Iran is expected to lead to full and early operationalisation of the Transit and Trade arrangement between the three countries though the Chabahar