Oriented on making people closer

A representative delegation led by Azat Atamuradov, Head of Turkmen Demir Yollary, the Transport and Communications Agency under the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan, was on a working visit to the Afghan province of Herat from July 27 to 31 to discuss projects planned for the neighboring country in the railway sector.

After familiarizing themselves with the local conditions for the implementation of the planned projects, the Chairman of the Turkmen Demir Yollary Agency held talks with Head of Herat Province Nur Mohammed Islamjar. The construction of a warehouse complex and the first stage of the Turgundi-Sanabar section of the Turgundi-Herat railway were discussed.

Nur Mohammed Islamjar noted the relevance of these projects, which will contribute to the economic stability of Afghanistan and stimulate the industrial development of Herat province.

Also, on July 28, it was held a meeting with Deputy Minister of Public Works for Railway Transport of Afghanistan, head of the Afghan Railway Authority Bakht-ur Rahman Sharafat. Issues of railway communications between the two countries, the approval of the draft Memorandum of Understanding on the construction of a warehouse complex or, in logistics language, a "dry port", which Turkmen railway workers plan to build at their own expense at the Turgundi station, a joint Work Plan for the project of the first stage of the Turgundi-Sanabar section (22 km) of the Turgundi-Herat railway, etc. were discussed with him.

On July 29, negotiations on these topics with the leadership of the Afghan Railways Authority continued with the participation of the Deputy Prime Minister of Afghanistan for Economic Affairs. It was emphasized that these joint projects will reduce the time and increase the volume of freight traffic between the two countries. The Afghan side noted that the allocation of land for a warehouse complex at the Turgundi station was agreed upon with local authorities and farmers, and topographic maps of this area will be handed over to the Turkmen side. A scheme for the return of investments in these projects was also agreed upon.

The Afghan side agreed with the Joint Work Plan proposed by the Turkmen side on the project for the construction of the Turgundi-Sanabar section of the Turgundi-Herat railway. It was reached an agreement to sign the Memorandum and the Joint Plan in Ashgabat in the second half of August.

In addition, the meeting discussed issues of attracting investments and drawing up a feasibility study for the planned construction of the Turgundi-Herat railway. The Afghan side asked to organize separate trilateral meetings under the leadership of the Turkmen side with the relevant delegations of the United Arab Emirates and the State of Qatar on the financing of this project.

It was reached an agreement to establish a working group to increase freight traffic between the two countries. The Afghan side said it would re-analyze tariffs and called for assistance in transporting its goods along the international Lazurite Corridor (Turkmenistan-Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey). The Turkmen side said that 30-50 percent discounts apply to all deliveries to/from Afghanistan.

The head of the Afghan Railways Authority expressed gratitude to his Turkmen colleagues for their invaluable assistance in developing the transport sector in his country and working on projects that help it integrate into the system of regional and international trade chains, as well as for maintaining freight traffic between our two neighboring countries at a high level.

ORIENT news

Photo: "Türkmendemirýollary"