In an effort to increase its share of marine trade, Iran’s Ministry of Roads and Urban Development has invited domestic and foreign investors to participate in the development of southern and northern Iranian ports.
Roads and Urban Development Minister Abbas Akhoundi said that the country’s southern ports have favourable potential for expanding the marine economy, which should be exploited using the capabilities of private sector investors.
Comprehensive plans were prepared by the ministry in the past Iranian year and Akhoundi noted that these plans could renovate all means of transportation, establish transportation markets, improve standards and boost productivity.
Akhoundi said: “Southern ports have a container capacity of 30 million tonnes. The government plans to grow the capacity of southern ports by 6 million tonnes.”
He added: “The government intends to improve infrastructures by linking southern ports with northern ones.”
The ministry attracted US$406.25 million worth of investment in ports and marine sectors in the first four months of the current Iranian year.