Ports War: Determining Gwadar and Chabahar Ports Trade Attractiveness Using Multi Criteria Decision Analysis

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 School of Management Science, Ghulam Ishaq Khan (GIK) Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology, Topi, Swabi, KP, Pakistan

2 NUST Business School (NBS), National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Pakistan

3 Ghulam Ishaq Khan (GIK) Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology Topi, Swabi, KPK, Pakistan

10.22059/ijms.2023.332673.674803

Abstract

This study compares the two emerging seaports: Gwadar port (Pakistan); and Chabahar port (Iran). The study evaluates the trade attractiveness among the neighbouring countries, i.e., Afghanistan, China, and the Central Asian States, while keeping China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) development in perspective. The two ports may provide one of the closest sea links for the resource-rich Central Asian countries and Afghanistan. At the same time, Gwadar provides China with an alternative and short trade route via Pakistan. The study employs the Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) technique of Multi-Criteria Decision Making methods to evaluate and select the best seaport. The findings establish that Gwadar is a better option. The study also provides recommendations for the authorities of the two ports and the prospective other countries in the neighbourhood to ensure maximum return on their investment.

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