RECCA VII: stability in the region will be provided by roads, infrastructure and workplaces
November 16, 2017 | 02:41 |311
On November 15, the 7th Conference on Regional Economic Cooperation in Afghanistan (RECCA VII) concluded its work at the Yildiz Hotel in Ashgabat. As a result of the talks, a new Ashgabat Declaration was adopted and a number of agreements were signed. One of the most important documents signed at the conference was the five-party Agreement on transit and transport cooperation (the Agreement on the route "Lapis-Lazuli Corridor"). It is noteworthy that this route - Afghanistan-Turkmenistan-Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey - has already been established, and the adopted agreement practically fulfills a legal function that abolishes formal barriers to cargo transportation. Thus, the document gave "green light" to the strengthening of trade turnover in the region, providing the opportunity for duty-free and tax-free transit of goods.Eziz OVEZOV
In the opinion of experts who participated in the conference, the agreement will help reduce prices for many types of products, allow it to enter the international market for various participants, including small private enterprises and strengthen economic stability in the region.
Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani, who delivered a speech to the press on the results of the Conference, highly appreciated this agreement:
"I want to join my colleagues from Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan and Turkey and share the joy of signing the agreement on the Afghanistan-Turkmenistan-Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey transport corridor along the route "Lapis-Lazuli Corridor", which will not only help to connect Afghanistan with Europe and other friendly countries , but also will make our nations closer to each other, creating an opportunity for further growth of trade, transit and investment.
As a result of the Conference, a number of agreements and projects have been adopted and developed, including specialized economic zones, the RECCA Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the research and analysis center, a program to strengthen the role of women in the region's economy, and much more.
However, if you digress from documents and specific figures, you can see that the most important thing is how the review and signing of these important agreements took place. All of the above achievements have been possible thanks to a constructive dialogue and unanimity of delegates from about 40 countries under the auspices of hospitable Turkmenistan, whose goal is the rapprochement and strengthening of the friendship of peoples. (By the way, the slogan-motto of news agency ORIENT is "Making people closer").
A key aspect of the solidarity of the Conference assessors was the view that well-being in Afghanistan and the entire region can be achieved only if the world community pays sufficient attention to the economic development of the country.
In particular, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov is confident that the most important factor of political stability in Afghanistan is the implementation of large infrastructure projects with Afghan participation. At the same time, priority areas are energy and transport.
"It is thanks to the implementation of large infrastructure projects that Afghanistan is able to turn from a recipient of economic and financial assistance from outside, despite all its importance, to a full participant and partner in the world market," the minister said.
In this regard, Meredov fully agrees with the second vice-president of Afghanistan, Sarwar Danesh. The politician is sure that the region needs to expand trade, which is possible due to investments in transport and energy infrastructure. These investments will also lead to the elimination of trade and transit barriers, Danesh believes.
"Creation of jobs is also an important element," the second vice-president of Afghanistan said. - The population of the region must, on its own experience, feel a positive impact from the implementation of infrastructure programs. In this case, the people themselves will become the main force that facilitates the implementation of the most ambitious and courageous projects.
In the context of infrastructure development, the Turkmen-Afghan economic cooperation has become indicative, said Afghan Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani.
"Afghanistan and Turkmenistan are working together to implement the largest projects in the region," the minister said. - The most obvious are the TAPI pipeline project, the transport route "Lapis-Lazuli Corridor" and other initiatives that are of priority importance for regional development.
The minister's words complemented the statement of his Turkmen colleague Rashid Meredov, who is confident that over 12,000 jobs will be created thanks to the TAPI gas pipeline in Afghanistan. At the same time, the project will provide the country with annual revenues of about $1 billion, only through the transit of blue fuel.
The success of the Turkmen-Afghan cooperation was also highly appreciated by the assessor from China, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of China to Turkmenistan Sun Wadeong. Speaking at the conference, the delegate stated that in just 1.5 years, during which his diplomatic mission lasted, a huge number of international projects initiated by Turkmenistan, aimed at strengthening economic cooperation with Afghanistan and prosperity of the region, were implemented before his eyes.
- "I personally felt the care and support for the peaceful restoration of Afghanistan by the distinguished President Berdymukhamedov, I felt the friendship and sincerity of the Turkmen people to the Afghan people, deeply felt the important role of the Turkmen side in promoting the socio-economic development of the region," the ambassador said. - "I am happy for Afghanistan and the countries of the region, since they have such a good neighbor, friend and brother in Turkmenistan".
Successfully held this year in the Turkmen land, the RECCA VII Conference opened up tremendous opportunities for the region. Their implementation takes time, but today one can confidently predict the stabilization of the situation in Afghanistan due to the appearance of thousands of new jobs, the formation of important transport corridors, the simplification of business activities, the construction of an important socioeconomic infrastructure and other projects, the implementation of which has become possible as a result of a positive dialogue between friendly countries.
