18th session of India-Iran Joint Commission held in Delhi

The 18th session of the India-Iran Joint Commission was held in New Delhi on Monday. The session was co-chaired by External Affairs Minister sushma Swaraj and Ali Tayebnia, Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Ali Taiebnia called on the Prime Minister of India, who warmly recalled his meeting with the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Ufa earlier this year and reiterated the keen desire of India to expand its economic cooperation with Iran.

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In the Joint Commission Meeting (JCM), EAM mentioned that India considers Iran as an important partner and expressed satisfaction at the growing bilateral interaction in diverse area.

She underlined the efforts underway to enhance bilateral economic cooperation in energy, infrastructure - including shipping, ports and railways - and trade and commerce. She stressed that connectivity afforded by Indian participation in Chahbahar Port will facilitate linking Afghanistan and Central Asia with India.

The Iranian side suggested participation of India's public and private sectors in development of Chahbahar Port and Chahbahar Free Trade Zone (FTZ) and in setting up industrial units in the FTZ.

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EAM emphasized the need for early completion of all necessary procedures for India's participation in Farzad-B field and pointed out India's desire to participate in other oil and gas explorations in Iran as well.

The two Ministers reviewed the progress in trade and economic cooperation and a number of related matters, and discussed the possibilities in cooperation in railways, including by supply of rails, rolling stock, signalling and other works and India's participation in Chahbahar - Zahedan -Mashhad railway line.

The JCM was preceded by meetings of the Joint Working Group (JWG) on Trade & Commerce (18th-19th November 2015), Joint Working Group on Energy (26th December 2015) and Joint Working Group on Infrastructure (26thDecember 2015).