Emphasizing the need to use the capacities of the northern ports in the field of exports, the member of the Board of Directors and Deputy for Port and Economic Affairs of the Ports and Maritime Organization said: "exporting goods has many effects on the maritime economy."
Farhad Montaser Koohsari, the member of the
Board of Directors and Deputy for Port and Economic Affairs of the Ports and
Maritime Organization, on the sidelines of his visit to Anzali Port Complex in
a meeting with reporters on Thursday, 26 March 2020, while appreciating the
measures taken by the Director General of Ports and Maritime Authority of
Guilan Province to provide the needs of the people during the outbreak of
Corona virus, said: "ports have played a major role in the current situation of the country."
Pointing to the provision of basic health
items, including masks, gloves and disinfectants, for port employees working
for the port companies and terminal operators, he said: "fortunately,
given the visits that took place today, we saw that these items were provided
and to prevent the spread of corona virus, employees have been working in
shifts to load and unload the country's basic goods."
Deputy for Port and Economic Affairs of the
Ports and Maritime Organization, stating that the main purpose of this visit is
to review the facilities and equipment available in Anzali port and also to
accelerate the provision of equipment to be provided for this port, added: "some
part of this equipment will be provided by the private sector and the other
part by the Ports and Maritime Organization."
Capacity of 30 Million Tons of Northern Ports
Stating that our ports, especially the
northern ports, have a great capacity, he specified: "Northern ports such
as Bandar Anzali, Amirabad, Nowshahr and Astara have a capacity of 30 million
tons. This capacity must be used well. We are working to expand the potentials
of the northern ports beyond the country's borders, especially along the
Caspian Sea, by attracting the participation of the private sector and the
terminal operators, so that we can provide the necessary infrastructure for
transit to these countries and have a lower cost for transit of the goods."
Montaser Koohsari continued by pointing to the
creation of export opportunities to the countries of the region as the second
priority and emphasized: "meeting domestic needs and reducing the cost
prices will cause more activity of ports and use the empty capacity of northern
ports, reduce costs, customer satisfaction, increase employment and maintaining
existing employment."
Stating that the another action of the Ports
and Maritime Organization is to hold a conference with the participation of
Iran, India and Russia hosted by the Ports and Maritime Authority of Guilan
Province in the Anzali Port, he added: "Chabahar Port is operating with
the presence of Indians. We need to speed up the operation of the north-south
corridor to be able to transit with these countries as well as the Caspian Sea
ports."
Referring to the capacities of Anzali port, he
said: "two 25-ton mobile harbor cranes and two 300-ton grain suction
devices have been allocated to this port. Some of this equipment is delivered
to Anzali Port Complex and the rest will be done after the holidays, so that we
can accelerate the bulk loading and unloading operations."
The Important Role of Ports and Maritime
Organization in the Leap of Production
Expressing that following the efforts of the
Director General of Ports and Maritime Authority of Guilan Province, we are
witnessing the implementation of investment projects in Anzali Port that can
help increase the prosperity of this port, Koohsari said: " Using the planned organizational resources,
which are on the agenda and will be approved and announced this year, some equipment
will be provided for the new berths of Anzali Port Complex."
Referring to the naming of 1998 as the year of
"Production Leap" by the Supreme Leader and stating that ports play a
very important role, he added: "more than 90% of the world's goods are
transported through the ports and the livelihoods of many people in the world
depend on these goods, and Iran is no exception to this rule, and more than 90%
of its goods are transported by sea as well."
Stating that the necessary ground must be laid
for investment in processing sectors and the creation of added value for goods
in ports or their suburbs, Deputy for Port and Economic Affairs of the Ports and
Maritime Organization said: "creating these platform is very effective for
Production Leap."
Emphasizing the need to speed up the loading
and unloading operations and processing the goods in the ports, he added:
"providing these conditions will create employment and maintain existing
jobs."
Referring to the importance of exports and its
effect on maritime economy, the member of the Board of Directors and Deputy for
Port and Economic Affairs of the Ports and Maritime Organization stated: "
by exporting to other countries and creating a
market for domestic goods and by importing raw materials for factories in the
shortest time and in large quantities, we can take an effective step in the
field of production leap."