'India open to Japanese cooperation on Chabahar port'

India is open to support from Japan in developing Chabahar port in southeastern Iran, a senior Indian diplomat said on Friday.

The Indian diplomat was responding to a senior Japanese diplomat who, while dwelling on the possibilities of Japanese collaboration with India in the development of Chabahar port, had said that Japan with its experience of developing ports with railway and road connectivity can play a significant role in the development of the port.

The event was on "Confluence" of interests of India and Japan as "Maritime Democracies". The event was held under Chatham House Rule where participants may not be identified.

In May this year, India, Iran and Afghanistan signed a trilateral agreement to develop the strategically important port.

The Japanese diplomat said that both countries have the will and ability to bring peace and prosperity and "rule of law" in the Asia-Pacific region.

Meanwhile, India is ironing out the problems faced by Japanese businesses in India and now Japanese businessmen will get business visa on arrival. "If India needs another person's money, then we will have to work for it. India is going to take more initiatives in this regard," the Indian diplomat said.

The high speed rail being considered in India from Japan was termed as the "flagship programme" for relations between the two countries. India also wants Japan to look at nuclear cooperation for its ripple effect over the Indian economy and give it more importance.

The technological ties -- existing as well as future -- between the two countries need cooperation on intangible issues like language skills, technical training and the like. To prepare the Indian workforce for Japanese investment, there is need for scaling up of the training programme for Indians in Japan.

--IANS

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