Iran Hosts Trilateral Economic Meeting to Boost Chabahar Corridor Cooperation
In a bid to expand regional economic ties, a trilateral meeting was held in Iran’s Chabahar Free Trade Zone with the participation of Afghan businesspeople, Iran’s ambassador to India, and the chargé d’affaires at the Iranian embassy in Kabul.
The event, hosted by Dr. Mohammad Saeed Arbabi, Chairman of the Board of the Chabahar Free Trade Organization, aimed to explore existing opportunities and challenges in advancing trade, economic, and transit cooperation between Iran, Afghanistan, and India.
Iran’s Ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, and Alireza Bikdeli, acting head of Iran’s embassy in Afghanistan, highlighted the strategic significance of the Chabahar Port in connecting the region to international waters and facilitating transit trade. The officials described Chabahar as a vital hub linking countries in the region, particularly Iran, Afghanistan, India, and Central Asia.
During the discussions, a range of topics was addressed, including the development of transit infrastructure, the establishment of joint logistics and insurance companies, groundwork for barter trade agreements, issuance of multiple-entry visas, and the waiver of tourist visa requirements for traders. Other subjects included permission for freight vehicle movement between Iran and Afghanistan, and plans for joint educational programs between universities in Iran and India.
Afghan economic stakeholders expressed optimism about new trade opportunities and called on the Taliban administration to remove bureaucratic hurdles, enabling better utilization of Chabahar Port’s potential. At the conclusion of the meeting, participants emphasized the importance of shaping a clear vision for sustainable trilateral economic cooperation.
