Iran and Kazakhstan Sign Investment Deal for Shahid Rajaee Port Logistics Center

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mohammad Shakibi-Nasab, Deputy Minister of Roads and Urban Development and Managing Director of the Ports and Maritime Organization (PMO), emphasized that the contract aligns perfectly with Iran’s national policy to attract foreign direct investment and bolster its status as a premier regional transit hub.

According to Shakibi-Nasab, the landmark agreement guarantees the annual transit of 1.5 million tons of cargo through Iranian territory.

“Achieving this target will not only boost Iran’s share of the regional transit market, but it will also improve macro-economic indicators, increase transit revenues, and elevate the standing of Iranian ports within the international supply chain,” Shakibi-Nasab stated.

The PMO chief added that the project will generate jobs, upgrade port equipment, increase operational capacities at Shahid Rajaee Port, and stimulate economic activity across all port situated along the INSTC route. Highlighting Kazakhstan’s strategic positioning, he noted that the country’s presence as an investor will actively catalyze the corridor’s efficiency and deepen economic ties between Tehran and Astana.

Direct Investment to Triple Bilateral Trade Volume

Director General of the Trade Development Fund of the Republic of Kazakhstan, expressed high optimism for the project, describing it as the culmination of nearly a year of intensive negotiations.

The Kazakh official outlined a vision that goes far beyond basic infrastructure: “We do not view this project merely as a pier, a warehouse, or a terminal. Rather, we see it as the foundation for establishing a dedicated Kazakh port presence within Shahid Rajaee Port—a venture that will play a critical role in developing regional transit corridors.”

He concluded by emphasizing that while current trade between Iran and Kazakhstan hovers around $400 million, the operationalization of this new logistics center is projected to easily double or triple that figure, opening a robust new chapter in regional commerce.