Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, Aug.30 / Trend, H.Hasanov /
Turkmenistan and Afghanistan have today started in Kabul the two-day negotiations within the intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation, the official Turkmen source said.
The key topics of discussion are prospect of implementation of joint projects, including construction of a transnational gas pipeline Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) and power supply facilities.
Last week, the project was discussed in Islamabad, where a regular meeting of the Turkmen-Pakistani intergovernmental commission was held, which was headed from the Turkmen side by Deputy Prime Ministers, Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov.
According to the Turkmen media outlets, "the Pakistani side reaffirmed its keen interest in the implementation of this international project initiated by Turkmenistan, which has important political, economic and social importance, and intended for the welfare of the region's peoples."
In early August in Ashgabat representatives of the TAPI project member countries stressed "the importance of rapid implementation of the project and the need to intensify joint efforts".
It was stressed during the regular meeting of the technical working group on this great project.
The pipeline's capacity can reach more than 30 billion cubic meters of gas a year. Recently it was reported that potential buyers - India and Pakistan - are ready to buy twice as much annually.
In 2009, the Italian Concern Eni offered Turkmenistan assistance on entry of energy resources into the Indian market in the long-term perspective.