Kazakhstan eyes establishing exports to Persian Gulf countries through Iran

Kazakhstan plans to establish a joint venture with Abu Dhabi Ports (ADP) from the UAE. It will create the shortest route for the delivery of Kazakh export cargo to the markets of the Persian Gulf countries, the Middle East, Pakistan, India and the coast of East Africa, Report informs referring to Kazakh media.

The prospects for cooperation within the joint venture were discussed by Kazakh Minister of Trade Serik Zhumangarin and the head of Simatech Shipping & Forwarding (part of the ADP group) Davud Tafti.

The base ports will be Mangistau Kuryk and Jebel Ali in the UAE. It is through them that the export of agricultural goods from Kazakhstan to the countries of the Persian Gulf will go through the Iranian ports of Amirabad and Bandar Abbas.

“The new route opens up unprecedented opportunities for Kazakh exporters: three days through Iran with access to the Iranian ports of Amirabad, Bandar Abbas, Bandar Khomeini, Chabahar, the ports of the UAE Khalifa, Fujairah and further to all ports of India, Pakistan, the Far East, the east coast of Africa. At the same time, the possibility of delivering other goods to European countries is not ruled out,” the Ministry of Trade noted.

Tafti said at the meeting that the company had already purchased four vessels with a carrying capacity of 7,500 tons each to implement the project. Vessels are capable of carrying bulk, container and general cargo. Over the next two years, the company plans to supply 10 such vessels.