News:
- Iranian president Hassan Rouhani has asked India to spend in infrastructure projects worth $8 billion, including an expanded role in developing a strategic port that will open up access to Central Asia.
- With this deal it was a “golden time” for India to seize opportunities because of the two countries’ close relations and shared interest in improving Central Asian transport links.
- In May, India’s Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari and his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Ahmad Akhoundi, signed an $85 million deal for India to lease two existing berths at the port and use them as multi-purpose cargo terminals.
- Under the new proposal India could help build second and third terminals at the port, as well as railway connections into the rest of Iran.
Source: ET