Turkmenistan and Afghanistan Government Delegations Meet in Herat on TAPI and TAP
Herat | ORIENT. On Sunday, a meeting of the government delegations of Turkmenistan and Afghanistan took place in Herat. Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov and Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar conducted a detailed review of the progress of key transregional projects—TAPI, TAP, and railway infrastructure, Ariana News reports.
TAPI: Focus on Herat. The talks resulted in confirmation of the construction timeline for the Afghan section of the TAPI gas pipeline. According to Turkmen Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov, the pipeline is expected to reach Herat by the end of this year.
Investment Interest from Riyadh. An important detail of the meeting was the interest of major international capital. The Afghan side announced the Saudi company Delta International's interest in investing in the TAPI project. This includes not only gas purchases, but also the expansion of the resource base at Turkmenistan's fields, as well as the construction of gas infrastructure up to the Indian border and the creation of a hub in the Pakistani port of Gwadar.
Transportation and Electricity: The parties also discussed in detail the development of transport and energy corridors:
TAP Power Transmission Line: Afghanistan confirmed its readiness to finalize the project's route map and facilitate electricity transmission to the country's northern regions.
Railway Corridor: Rashid Meredov expressed Turkmenistan's readiness to invest in the construction of the Turghundi-Herat railway, noting that practical work has already begun at the border crossing of Turghundi.
Banking Cooperation and Jobs: In addition to the technical aspects, the delegations discussed strengthening interbank cooperation, which should simplify the financial support of mega-projects. Particular attention was paid to creating jobs for local residents along the gas pipeline and power line routes, which will provide a powerful stimulus for stabilizing the region's economy.
