Ahead of PM Narendra Modi’s 6-nation tour, emphasis back on International North-South Transport Corridor

NEW DELHI: Ahead of PM Narendra Modi’s six-nation tour of Russia and Central Asia in mid-July, India is seeking to revive the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC). An agreement was signed on the corridor between Delhi, Moscow and Tehran for better connectivity to the Eurasian region via Iran over a decade ago.

After the Road Transport and Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari’s trip to Tehran for signing an MoU on Chabahar Port expansion project, foreign secretary S Jaishankar was in Iran recently for foreign office consultations where connectivity of projects are understood to have been discussed. These visits along with upcoming trip of Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj to Tehran are key to reengaging Tehran in the backdrop of talks for a final deal on Iranian nuclear issue and possible lifting of sanctions. Modi’s trip to all five Central Asian states — first by an Indian PM in several years — is aimed at improving connectivity with the region and INSTC will be a key element in that initiative, according to official sources.

The Foreign Trade Policy of India, 2015-20, has highlighted the importance of INSTC in expanding India’s trade and investment links with Central Asia. INSTC is the ship, rail, and road route for moving freight between India, Russia, Iran, Europe and Central Asia. The route primarily involves moving freight from India, Iran, Azerbaijan and Russia via ship, rail and road. INSTC could assist India’s economic integration with Eurasian economies and other countries in the region.

In fact, India and Central Asia’s biggest country Kazakhstan held talks in Delhi to bolster INSTC.