The Crucial Role of the International North-South Transport Corridor in the Indo-Pacific
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61841/Abstract
The International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) holds the potential to emerge as a significant route for fostering new economic opportunities within the Indo-Pacific region. This extensive transportation network, connecting the northern and southern hemispheres, holds paramount importance in fostering regional integration, economic development, and geopolitical stability. Economically, the corridor acts as a catalyst for increased trade and commerce, facilitating the efficient movement of goods between participating nations where it links diverse economic zones, reducing transportation costs and time, providing a significant boost to regional economies. The corridor's comprehensive infrastructure supports multimodal transportation, seamlessly integrating maritime, rail, and road networks.
Downloads
References
Anderson, J. (2022, July 25). Chokepoints and vulnerabilities in global markets. Roland Berger. https://www.rolandberger.com/en/Insights/Publications/Chokepoints-and-vulnerabilities-in-global-markets.html.
Chatterjee, S. (2018). International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) connecting India Central-Asia.
Dryad Global. (n.d.). South East Asia, Malacca Straits, significant regional challenges to securing the maritime domain. https://dg.dryadglobal.com/south-east-asia-straits-of-malacca.
Economic Times. (2024, June 26). The train from Russia: How a new route can change things for India. The Economic Times. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/foreign-trade/the-train-from-russia-how-a-new-route-can-change-things-for-india/articleshow/111290149.cms?from=mdr.
Girardi, B., van Hooft, P., & Cisco, G. (2023). What the Indo-Pacific means to Europe: Trade value, chokepoints, and security risks. The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies.
Israyelyan A., (2024, April 3). [Personal communication].
Lee, J. M.-Y., & Wong, E. Y.-C. (2021). Suez Canal blockage: An analysis of legal impact, risks, and liabilities to the global supply chain. MATEC Web of Conferences, 339, 010. https://doi.org/10.1051/matecconf/2021339010.
Malyshova, D. (2021). International transport corridor "North-South" in Russia's strategy.
Ministry of External Affairs, India. (2012, December 20). Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's speech in ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit 2012 [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYobegQoTAU.
NDTV. (2023, May 15). EAM Jaishankar | S Jaishankar Responds To US Sanction Warning Over Chabahar Port Deal [Video]. YouTube. https://i.ytimg.com/an_webp/vGhDeIWayF8/mqdefault_6s.webp?du=3000&sqp=CO7CibQG&rs=AOn4CLCF9rT3C1E-i6Jr4-TKBWtxW0mkNg.
Notteboom, T., & Rodrigue, J.-P. (n.d.). Challenges to and challengers of the Suez Canal. Port Technology International. Retrieved from file:///C:/Users/Professional/Downloads/247744.pdf
Passi, R. (2017, April). Money matters: Discussing the economics of the INSTC. Observer Research Foundation, 112.
Qiao, J., Li, Y., & Huang, M. (2024). The geopolitical importance of Bab el-Mandeb Strait: A strategic gateway to global trade. Middle East Politics & Insights. https://mepei.com/the-geopolitical-importance-of-bab-el-mandeb-strait-a-strategic-gateway-to-global-trade/.
U.S. Department of State. (2010, October 28). Secretary Clinton delivers remarks on American leadership in the East Asia-Pacific region [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrgjRQ648zg.
U.S. Department of State. (2011, March 9). Secretary Clinton delivers remarks at 2011 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qe7zToil3Tw.
Vinokurov, E. (Ed.), Ahunbaev, A., Usmanov, N., & Zaboev, A. (2022). International North–South Transport Corridor: Investments and soft infrastructure. Reports and Working Papers 22/2. Almaty, Moscow: Eurasian Development Bank.
Vinokurov, E. Y., Ahunbaev, A., & Zaboev, A. I. (2022). International North–South Transport Corridor: Boosting Russia’s “pivot to the South” and trans-Eurasian connectivity. Russian Journal of Economics, 8, 159–173. https://doi.org/10.32609/j.ruje.8.70694.
Vinokurov, E., Ahunbaev, A., Shashkenov, M., & Zaboev, A. (2021). The International North–South Transport Corridor: Promoting Eurasia’s intra- and transcontinental connectivity. Report 21/5. Almaty, Moscow: Eurasian Development Bank.
Voskanyan, V. (2024, April 8). [Personal communication].
Wu, Y. (2022). The concept of the “Indo-Pacific region” and the “Indo-Pacific strategy” of the United States: Formation, development, and Chinese views. World Politics, (1).
Greenfield, C. (2021, November 11). 'Troika plus' group seeks to ease access to banking services in Afghanistan. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/china/troika-plus-group-holds-conference-afghanistan-pakistani-capital-2021-11-11/.
Jaishankar, S. (2024, May 15). EAM Jaishankar responds to US sanction warning over Chabahar Port deal. NewsBytes. https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/india/jaishankar-reacts-to-us-sanction-warning-on-chabahar-port-deal/story.
KazanForum. (2024). Russia Afghanistan Russian Business Center in Afghanistan [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUtpLnWXCPA&t=3391s.
Khobragade, V., & Nim, A. K. (2022). World Affairs: The Journal of International Issues, 26(3), 40-53.
Pant, H. V., & Joshi, Y. (2020). Iran-India Relations: The Growing Rift and Its Implications. Asian Survey, 60(2), 321-341.
Pant, H. V., & Rej, A. (2018). Beyond JCPOA: Examining the consequences of U.S. withdrawal. Observer Research Foundation.
Taneja, K. (2024). Chabahar’s opportunities and challenges. Observer Research Foundation. https://www.orfonline.org/research/chabahar-s-opportunities-and-challenges.
U.S. Department of State. (2018). U.S. Exempts Chabahar Port from Sanctions. https://www.state.gov.
U.S. Department of State. (2024, May 13). Department of State daily press briefing - May 13, 2024 [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwzbevP2FOs.
U.S. Department of the Treasury. (2021). National Defense Authorization Act. Retrieved from www.treasury.gov.
U.S. exempts Iran's Chabahar port from sanctions in nod to Afghanistan. (2018, November 7). Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. https://www.rferl.org/a/us-exempts-iran-chabahar-port-project-from-sanction-in-nod-to-afghanistan-india/29586874.html.
U.S. Government Accountability Office. (2019). Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act. Retrieved from www.gao.gov.
World Bank. (2020). Iran Economic Monitor: Weathering Economic Challenges. Retrieved from www.worldbank.org.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Ashkhen Gevorgya, Dr Monojit Da (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
You are free to:
- Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format for any purpose, even commercially.
- Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.
- The licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms.
Under the following terms:
- Attribution — You must give appropriate credit , provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made . You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
- No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.
Notices:
You do not have to comply with the license for elements of the material in the public domain or where your use is permitted by an applicable exception or limitation .
No warranties are given. The license may not give you all of the permissions necessary for your intended use. For example, other rights such as publicity, privacy, or moral rights may limit how you use the material.
