India, Turkmenistan signs joint agreement on key bilateral, regional issues

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who is on a three-day visit to Ashgabat, has signed joint agreement on key bilateral and regional issues with Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov.

Earlier on Wednesday, Swaraj and Berdymuhamedov also discussed defence cooperation and progress on the multi-billion TAPI (Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India) gas pipeline project.

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin took to twitter to share the information.

"Committed to deepening India - Turkmenistan ties. #TAPI construction to begin this year. President Berdimuhamedov to EAM @SushmaSwaraj," Akbaruddin tweeted.

"India to provide further support to Turkmenistan in HRD in IT, industrial training, hydrocarbon, and petrochemical sectors," he added.

Swaraj had said that both the countries have agreed to set up a joint fertiliser factory to enhance cooperation in the field of mineral resources.

"Turkmenistan welcomes India's participation in its petrochemical sector, including fertilizer production. Supports OVL opening rep office," Akbaruddin said in a series of tweets.

"Conclusion of 5th IGC. Agreement on upgradation of Turkmen Polytechnic Ashgabat by HMTI Bangalore also signed," he added.

The TAPI gas pipeline project, valued at more than USD three billion, has long been discussed by governments and energy companies but instability in Afghanistan has so far made its construction impossible.

Turkmenistan, holder of the world's fourth-largest natural gas reserves, is reportedly keen to revive plans to build the TAPI pipeline through Afghanistan to the markets of Pakistan and India.

The planned pipeline would have initial capacity for 33 billion cubic metres a year and would run for nearly 2,000 km, including 735 km across Afghanistan and another 800 km through Pakistan.

India and Turkmenistan have implemented an agreement on visa free entry for Diplomatic Passport holders, effective from April 1, 2011,

The third meeting of the India- Turkmenistan Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, and Consular and Cultural cooperation was held in Ashgabat in February 2010.

The fourth Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technological Cooperation was held in New Delhi on January 22, 2013. The fifth Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technological Cooperation is expected to be held in Ashgabat in 2015.