Caspian Sea enjoys high potential for cooperation
By Nigar Orujova
There is immense potential for the Caspian Sea's littoral states to have better cooperation among themselves, Jalil Eslami, Deputy for Ports and Special Zones of Iran's Ports and Maritime Organization, has said, the Islamic Republic News Agency reported.
Port managers from Azerbaijan, Iran, Russia, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan are attending the seventh conference of the Caspian Sea ports' directors in Amirabad, Iran's largest port in the Caspian Sea, on November 16-17.
During the meeting, the participants will discuss a broad range of issues related to maritime transport, maritime engineering cooperation, ports and infrastructure, maritime security, the Caspian Sea related education, etc.
“The Caspian region entails a huge potential and the littoral states should exploit it perfectly,” said Eslami.
“The unique position of the Caspian Sea and its location on North-South and East-West Corridors requires full regional cooperation among the Caspian littoral states,” he added, calling for enhancing extensive private investments at the Caspian Sea and ports.
The Caspian littoral states should promote marine education, hold joint reconnaissance and rescue maneuvers, and preserve the environment, the PMO deputy said.
The participant sides are expected to sign a cooperation protocol during the conference.
Iran plans to boost trade and economic ties with the Caspian littoral countries.
Substantial expansion of cooperation and establishing constructive engagement between Iran and the Caspian Sea littoral states is one of the main priorities of the government, Mazandaran province's Governor General, Rabi' Fallah, said, IRNA reported.
“The Caspian Sea is a region of peace and friendship and promotion of cooperation among the littoral states in the Caspian region is crucial,” Rabi' Fallah said at the event.
Currently, the environment is conducive for furthering all-out cooperation among the Caspian littoral states, Fallah said.
“All the littoral states in the Caspian Sea should pay special
attention to expanding cooperation among themselves. As the
South-North Corridor becomes operational, they should utilize the
potentials in the Caspian region to foster development,” he
said.
The government and the province have provided suitable conditions
for the promotion of oil and natural gas transit in the Caspian
Sea, Fallah said, adding that the ports across Mazandaran Province
are capable of boosting the volume of trade transactions between
the littoral states.
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Nigar Orujova is AzerNews’ staff journalist. Follow her on Twitter: @o_nigar
Follow us on Twitter: @AzerNewsAz