Turkmenistan is increasing its bilateral cooperation with India in many sectors including oil and gas

President Ram Nath Kovind held a telephonic conversation with the President of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov on Wednesday and cheered the bilateral relationship between the two nations.

President Kovind informed about the same, on Twitter. He wrote, “I thank the President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov for his telephone call this morning. Appreciate the sustained momentum in our bilateral partnership that is reflective of our shared historical and civilizational links.”



The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) later released a statement about the same.

“The leaders acknowledged the warm and cordial relations between the two countries underpinned by historical and civilizational links. They noted with satisfaction the sustained momentum of cooperation in diverse areas,” the statement said.

According to MEA data, the relationship between India and Turkmenistan dates back to the 17th century and ‘Turkmen Gate’ built in Delhi in 1650s bears testimony to this friendship.

The presidents of both nations identified the immense potential that exists in trade and economic spheres, the statement said. The leaders also noted the success of joint collaboration between the Indian and Turkmen companies especially those operating in the pharmaceutical sector, the statement said further.

It comes at a time when Turkmenistan is increasing its bilateral cooperation with India in sectors including oil and gas.

One example of such is the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline which began on December 11, 2010. The pipeline is being developed by TAPI Pipeline company limited along with the Asian Development Bank. The pipeline aims to transport natural gas from the Galkynysh Gas field in Turkmenistan to all other three countries.

India and Turkmenistan also enjoy friendly trade relations, the MEA data suggests. According to the data, the trade between India and Turkmenistan for the Financial Year 2019-2020, till December 2019, stood at US $29.97 million. India exported goods to the Central Asian country worth US $26.40 million and imported goods from Turkmenistan worth US $3.57 million.

Major items of import from India include electronic and electrical items, machinery and woven apparel and pharmaceuticals, frozen meat and tyres. Exports to India comprises fertilizers, cotton, raw hides and inorganic chemicals. Turkmenistan produces cotton, wheat, rice, and a variety of vegetables and fruits.