Energy cooperation - priority of Turkmen-Indian talks
On Monday, 14 August, New Delhi hosted the 6th meeting of the joint Turkmen-Indian commission for trade, economic, scientific and technological cooperation, co-chaired by Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan R. Meredov and Minster of External Affairs of India Ms Sushma Swaraj. Under the framework of the session, governmental delegations of friendly countries went over the whole range of multi-faceted bilateral cooperation. Cooperation in the energy sector has taken the top lines of the mutual agenda. And first of all, the matter was about realizing the project of Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline, which is along with intended mission, will become a powerful vehicle for economic progress, peace and stability in the region, a key factor of all-round integration between South and Central Asia. Turkmen gas will essentially contribute to address such urgent problems faced by Indian government such as responding to the growing demand for energy as a result of high rates of urbanization and GDP growth, searching for alternative energy suppliers and focus on increasing the share of natural gas in the energy basket. In the course of meeting, the parties analyzed the situation and discussed such key areas of partnership as trade and economy, chemical industry, transport and communications, civil aviation, ICT, science, education, health, culture, tourism and sports. Members of the commission expressed satisfaction with the current level of joint work on implementation of the agreements reached at the highest level. Negotiations resulted in the signing of a relevant protocol. The bilateral dialogue was continued during a series of meetings with high officials and heads of the sectoral agencies - Vice President Shri Venkiaiah Naidu, Minister of Finance, Defence and Corporate Affairs Shri Arun Jaitley and State Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan. At a meeting with the Minister of Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Shri Nitin Gadkari, in particular, the India's accession to the Ashgabat Agreement on creation of international transport and transit corridor Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan-Iran-Oman, was considered. In the opinion of the Indian authorities, this corridor opens unique prospects for the delivery of goods to Central Asia and the establishment of a trade connectivity with the Eurasian continent.
