India joins Ashgabat Agreement

India has joined the Ashgabat agreement which envisages setting up of an international transport and transit corridor between Iran, Oman, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

"Turkmenistan, as depository State of Ashgabat Agreement, informed India today that all the four founding members have consented to the accession of India (to the agreement)," the external affairs ministry said.

The agreement was signed on April 25, 2011.

Ashgabat Agreement envisages facilitation of transit and transportation of goods between Central Asia and the Persian Gulf. Accession to the Agreement would diversify India's connectivity options with Central Asia and have a positive influence on India's trade and commercial ties with the region. Upon receipt of approval of the Union Cabinet for India's accession to the Ashgabat Agreement, India had deposited the Instrument of Accession with Turkmenistan in April 2016.