Japan expresses interest in Chabahar, says no need to stay confined to India's northeast

[anant_s]

NEW DELHI: In a likely leg up to India's efforts to increase connectivity with Afghanistan and Central Asia, Japan for the first time has officially suggested that it could consider partnering India in developing the Chabahar port project in Iran.

Highlights

1. Japan foreign ministry said it willconsider partnering India in developing the Chabahar port in Iran
2. Japan is said to be considering building an industrial complex in Chabahar
3. Japan's involvement in Chabahar will counter China's strategic encirclement of India

In an exclusive interaction with TOI , Japan foreign ministry said it will positively consider any proposal to improve connectivity in the region. India signed a tripartite agreement this year with Iran and Afghanistan hoping to develop the Chabahar port into a transit hub which would help them bypass Pakistan. India has committed $500 million for development of the port, seen as a counterweight to China's Gwadar port in Pakistan.

"In principle, we are interested in improving connectivity. If there is some proposal for improving connectivity from Iran to Central Asia and Afghanistan, we may think positively," said Masayuki Taga, senior regional coordinator with Japan foreign ministry's southwest division. He added though that there was no confirmation about "any concrete project" yet.

Significantly, the official said Japan's efforts to improve connectivity didn't necessarily have to remain confined to India's northeast and could expand to the region beyond India's western border.

The official was referring to Japan's ODA loans to India for improving road connectivity network in northeastern states.

The official also recalled the joint statement issued by the two countries after the visit of Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe last year in December which had said that he and his counterpart Narendra Modi had decided to develop and strengthen "reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructures that augment connectivity within India and between India and other countries in the region".

Any involvement of Japan in the Chabahar port project will come as a shot in the arm for India amid renewed talk about strategic encirclement of India by China.

As the December 2015 joint statement said, India and Japan have a high degree of congruence of political, economic and strategic interests and view each other as partners "that have responsibility for and are capable of responding to global and regional challenges".
Japan is said to be considering building an industrial complex in Chabahar which, according to strategic affairs expert Brahma Chellaney, will be a win-win initiative for both countries.

According to Brahma Chellaney, Chabahar has greater potential than Gwadar to emerge as a key shipping hub. An India-Japan partnership on Chabahar will help counter the strategic significance of the expanding Chinese footprint in Gwadar, he said.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...to-Indias-northeast/articleshow/54159165.cms?

 

[kaykay]

Japan is interested to build a Special economic zone near Chabahar.....Indian fertilizer and refinery companies are also setting up plants near by.

 

[wiseone2]

Japan is interested to build a Special economic zone near Chabahar.....Indian fertilizer and refinery companies are also setting up plants near by.

japanese participation should help iran

 

[ito]

This is a good news. Japanese participation will bring in more capital.

 

[Razia Sultana]

Shouldn't Japan speak to Iran for Chabahar? Its an Iranian territory or is it that Japan looking to enter Chabahar with the help of India? A Japanese industrial complex in Chabahar will be a complete game changer.

 

[kaykay]

Shouldn't Japan speak to Iran for Chabahar? Its an Iranian territory or is it that Japan looking to enter Chabahar with the help of India? A Japanese industrial complex in Chabahar will be a complete game changer.

What makes you think that they are not talking to Iran? Recently a business delegation from Japan visited Chabahar port.

 

[Razia Sultana]

What makes you think that they are not talking to Iran? Recently a business delegation from Japan visited Chabahar port.

The first sentence of the article.
The Japanese foreign ministry said they will consider any proposal for improving the connectivity... that means they are hoping to be invited into it either by Iran or India but lets not forget that without Iran's wishes no third party can enter it. Also, it appears more strategic for Japan than economic. Good thing is that Japan is now getting more conscious about strategic issues. Their entry will be strategically good for India and economically good for Iran. Japan has the capital and technology that can make Chabahar an economic hub in the region.

 

[anant_s]

@Razia Sultana
What i could make out is that since Iran has asked India to develop Chabahar port and associated infra-structure, Japanese companies could be engaged for several works under Indian management over looking the project.
his way japan can participate whilst the financial part of whole part of project executed by Japanese firms would be a responsibility of Indian agencies.

 

[Mirza Jatt]

This is a good development. Its a win win for all .

 

[Salahuddin Ayubi]

Indeed a good development for Iran which should make its Chahbahar Port project a success.

Gawadar Port does not in any way undermine Chahbahar's potential and both are important to respective countries.

Hence I wish my Iranian brother success.