The Deputy
Chairman of Cabinet of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs of
Turkmenistan H.E. Mr. Rashid Meredov paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Mr.
Shahid Khaqan Abbasi today. He was accompanied by Mr. Charymyrat Purchekov
Minister of Energy, Mr. Myrat Archayev, State Minister of Turkmen Gas and Mr.
Muhammetmyrat Amanov Chairman of the Board, CEO TAPI Pipeline Company Limited.
Foreign Minister Mr. Khawaja Muhammad Asif was also present during the meeting.
The Turkmen
Foreign Minister conveyed the greetings of President H.E. Mr. Gurbanguly
Berdimuhammedov to the Prime Minister. He briefed the Prime Minister on the
present status of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) Gas
Pipeline Project and other energy projects including proposals for electricity
transmission line and fiber optic connectivity. He invited Pakistani companies
to participate in the tenders floated by Turkmenistan for TAPI.
The Prime
Minister reiterated Pakistan’s interest in early completion of the energy
projects with Turkmenistan and appreciated the progress made on the TAPI
Project. The Foreign Minister informed the Prime Minister of the
Turkmen Government’s policies that allowed foreign investors to invest in
Turkmenistan. In this regard, he said that Turkmenistan Government would
welcome Pakistani participation in projects related to the petrochemical
industry.
The two sides
also agreed to expedite connectivity projects between the two countries
including roads and rail linkages to increase trade between the two brotherly
countries. The Foreign Minister invited the Prime Minister to visit
Turkmenistan at his earliest convenience, which the Prime Minister accepted.
Foreign
Minister Meredov is visiting Islamabad from 15-16 January
2018 on the invitation of Foreign Minister, Mr. Khawaja Muhammad
Asif to participate in the inaugural session of Pakistan-Turkmenistan Bilateral
Political Consultations (BPC) held earlier today.
*****
