KABUL (Pajhwok): Afghanistan and Turkmenistan have agreed to establish a technical committee led by senior officials to follow up on and accelerate the implementation of the TAPI gas pipeline, TAP, fibre-optic and railway projects.
Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar met Turkmenistan’s National Leader Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov at Torghundi port in western Herat province on Monday, his office said in a statement.
The two sides discussed recent progress on the TAPI project and future joint economic activities between Afghanistan and Turkmenistan, according to the statement.
Baradar welcomed Berdimuhamedov and expressed satisfaction with the progress of the TAPI project in Herat.
He said work on the project was progressing well in the province and expressed hope that the remaining activities would be completed within the scheduled timeframe.
Baradar called on the Turkmen side to reach an agreement on gas prices and adjust the pricing formula to protect prices from sharp fluctuations in European markets.
He also proposed that the gas contract should be long-term, offer favourable terms and include a flexible mechanism for reviewing the agreement.
He called for Turkmenistan’s cooperation in establishing a gas distribution and consumption network in Herat, forming a joint technical and legal commission to resolve outstanding issues related to the TAPI project, and making joint efforts to create more job opportunities for Afghans through the project.
Baradar said TAPI had further strengthened the strategic partnership between Afghanistan and Turkmenistan.
He said both sides needed to work together to boost trade by reopening the Aqrim port for oil transit, providing facilities for Afghan transit goods at the port of Turkmenbashi, resolving obstacles to reactivating the Lapis Lazuli route, and rehabilitating and expanding the Herat-Torghundi railway network.
He also urged Turkmenistan to support major economic projects in Afghanistan’s electricity and transport sectors.
For his part, Berdimuhamedov said relations between Turkmenistan and Afghanistan had strengthened on the basis of goodwill and good neighbourliness, creating opportunities for cooperation in various fields.
He added that Turkmenistan was ready to extend the TAPI pipeline to Herat, establish a gas distribution network in the province and begin practical work on the TAP project.
The Turkmen leader said several foreign companies had expressed readiness to invest in the TAP project.
Berd Berdimuhamedov added that Ashgabat was ready to provide all necessary facilities for Afghan transit and commercial goods at the port of Turkmenbashi.
He also stressed the need for joint efforts to reactivate the Lapis Lazuli route to increase trade between the two countries and the wider region.
Berd Berdimuhamedov assured the Afghan side that work on ongoing electricity and railway projects in Afghanistan would be completed on schedule and at an accelerated pace.
The two sides also agreed to establish a technical committee led by senior officials to follow up on and implement the TAP, fibre-optic and railway projects, in addition to TAPI, to ensure that work on the projects proceeds smoothly.
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