Uzbekistan explores trilateral with India and Iran to boost connectivity

Tashkent: Uzbekistan, Central Asia's second biggest economy, is proposing to collaborate with India and Iran in a trilateral format to make full use of regional connectivity initiatives, including the Chabahar Port in Iran.

This follows the efforts of India, Russia and Iran to promote freight transit through the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC). Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev had at the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit backed the INSTC and the Chabahar Port as the doubly landlocked country's gateway to the Indian Ocean Region.

Uzbekistan has been keen to develop a terminal at the Chabahar Port while it explores options on using Afghanistan to access the port


An India-Iran-Uzbekistan trilateral could contribute to regional stability and economic benefits.

The Uzbek president is of the opinion that connectivity via Iran is paramount to enhance the country's trade with India.