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The Port of Salalah, the biggest port in Oman, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Iranian ports of Shahid Rajaee and Chabahar, through the Port and Maritime Authority (PMO) of the Islamic Republic of Iran. This landmark agreement envisages close cooperation in a diverse range of activities and aims to facilitate growth in shipping, trade and commerce for both nations.
“With multiple main line services already providing a comprehensive and reliable global connectivity via Salalah, and strong interest shown by all shipping lines in catering to the growing Iranian economy, this pioneering agreement will act as a facilitator and a platform for the three ports to work together to provide best in class logistics and supply chain solutions for multiple stakeholders,” said Ahmed Akaak, deputy chief executive of the Port of Salalah.
Under the terms of the MOU, the three ports will develop joint marketing strategies, work together to enhance trade opportunities and promote an all water route between Bandar Abbas, Chahbahar and Salalah. The agreement also provides for the Iranian ports to take advantage of the knowledge and experience of Port of Salalah to help modernise and improve their infrastructure as well as offering support and expertise in training the Iranian workforce.
David Gledhill, chief executive of the Port of Salalah, says, “This agreement provides an opportunity for the three ports to complement and significantly enhance each other’s value proposition by providing the industries in their hinterland a gateway for wider market by leveraging on the location of the partner ports. We also envisage the landlocked countries adjacent to Iran will use the existing multilateral agreements for transport corridors to access new markets and thereby enhance regional trade opportunities.”
Shahid Rajaee Port is located 20 km west of Bandar Abbas city, on the northern shore of the Strait of Hormoz and Qeshm Island. It is the largest port in Iran, handling almost half of Iran’s seaborne trade. Chabahar is located in the south eastern part of Iran and is being promoted as an alternate gateway for access to the landlocked CIS countries and Afghanistan.
