Developing Gwadar Port in Contemporary Blue Economy

Abstract

Gwadar Port was inaugurated on 20 March 2007 and on 31 Oct 2016 first CPEC convoy consisting 95 trucks reached Gwadar Port from China. On 17 April 2020 Afghan Transit Trade started through Gwadar port. Presently Gwadar Port is functioning with three berths however it will be operating with 150 berths by 2045. As a Transshipment Port Gwadar will not only be supporting the Persian Gulf Region ports but also the ports around Horn of Africa and Bay of Bengal. It is appreciated that geo-political and military developments in Indo-Pacific Region will further add to influence Gwadar Port in Blue Diplomacy; however the regional and extra regional competition in Indo-Pacific Region combined with expanding Eurasian Trade links implies to develop Gwadar Port into a regional transshipment hub between Singapore and Rotterdam in an early time frame.