India-Iran Pact on Seafarers

To facilitate the movement of seafarers from both nations in accordance with the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping (STCW) (1978). for Seafarers, India and Iran signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

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• The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is signed on the recognition of Certificates of Competency in Unlimited Voyages in accordance with the International Convention.
• The International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (1978), seeks to assist seafarers from both nations.
• Chabahar Port: The event focused on the port's position as a commerce multiplier for the area because it has the ability to act as a quick, cost-effective trade route between Central Asia and South Asia, and even South East Asia.
• Shahid Beheshti Terminal: The region's enormous trade potential is projected to be unlocked by the Shahid Beheshti Port.
• An essential component of the possibly game-changing International North-South Transport Corridor for India is the Shahid Beheshti terminal of Chabahar Port (INSTC).
• The seafarer agreement is the first concrete step following years of stagnation caused by the port's untapped potential and Covid-related constraints.

What is the International Convention on STCW for Seafarers?

For masters, officers, and watch personnel on seagoing commerce ships, it establishes qualifying requirements.

• The International Maritime Organization (IMO) convention in London endorsed STCW in 1978, and it came into effect in 1984. In 1995, the Convention underwent considerable revision.
• The STCW Convention of 1978 was the first international agreement to define fundamental standards for seafarers' education, licensing, and watchkeeping.
• It establishes basic requirements for seafarer training, certification, and watchkeeping that all nations must fulfil or exceed.
• The Convention's application to ships from non-party States, while they are in the ports of States that are Parties to the Convention, is one of its most significant features.

India-Iran Relations

Historical:

• There have been significant exchanges between India and Iran throughout the millennia.
• Up until 1947, the two nations' borders were shared, and their languages, cultures, and traditions have a number of things in common.

Political ties:

• On March 15, 1950, India and Iran agreed to a friendship pact.
• The New Delhi Declaration: The "New Delhi Declaration," which outlined the idea of a strategic partnership between India and Iran, was signed by both parties in 2003.

Economic and Commercial Relations:

• Indian imports of Iranian crude oil have historically dominated India-Iran trade relations.
• The bilateral trade in 2019–20 was $4.77 billion, down 71.99% from $17.03 billion in trade in 2018–19.
• Rice, tea, sugar, soy, pharmaceuticals, man-made staple fibres, electrical equipment, and others are among India's top exports to Iran.
• Major products imported from Iran include leather, fruits and nuts, cement clinkers, inorganic and organic chemicals, and fertilizers.

Connectivity:

• The deal for the Shahid Beheshti port of Chabahar, which includes an investment of $85 million for the procurement of port equipment, was signed during Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's visit to Tehran in May 2016.
• A line of credit for the port's development worth about $150 million is also included in the arrangement.
• The Chabahar port has handled more than 8200 TEUs and 1.28 million tonnes of bulk cargo since operations started there in December 2018.
• India has also assisted Iran during times of natural calamities and medical problems. India provided Iran with assistance in April 2020 during the COVID-19 issue, including PPE kits and PCR equipment.
• India collaborated with Iran to supply 40,000 litres of Malathion 96% ULV pesticides through Chabahar port in an effort to lessen the threat of locusts to agriculture and improve food security in the area.

Cultural interactions

• Tehran's Indian Cultural Center opened its doors in 2013.
• In 2018, the Cultural Center changed its name to the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Center (SVCC), and in 2019, it received its own space.
• In 2018, 2019, and 2020, the International Day of Yoga was organized.
• It was also celebrated that Sri Guru Nanak turned 550 years old.
• The centre holds regular Hindi and Yoga sessions.

People-to-people interactions:

• Both nations have a strong commitment to encouraging and facilitating these interactions.
• Every year, pilgrims from India travel to the Shi'a pilgrimage sites in Iraq (Najaf and Karbala) and Iran (Qom, Mashhad, Hamedan).

Way forward

Despite CAATSA sanctions on Iran by the USA, and rising China's influence on Iran, India has continued to engage with Iran. The future must be focused on areas of convergence, where both nations may cooperate to advance their shared goals because they have mutual knowledge of one another's interests.

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