India and Turkmenistan signed four agreements, including in financial intelligence and disaster management, as President Ram Nath Kovind met his Turkmen counterpart Serdar Berdimuhamedov in Ashgabat and agreed to expand bilateral trade and energy cooperation to further strengthen the multifaceted partnership.

President Kovind’s trip to Turkmenistan will be followed by a state visit to the Netherlands from April 4-7 at the invitation of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima.

Significance of Turkmenistan relations

• India enjoys close, friendly and historical ties with Turkmenistan. ‘Turkman Gate’ built in Delhi in memory of Saint Shams-ul-Arifeen Shah Turkman Bayabani, who is believed to have lived in India during the 13th century, also bears testimony to this friendship.

• This is the first-ever visit of the President of India to independent Turkmenistan and comes just after the inauguration of new Turkmen President Berdimuhamedov.

• The state visit of the President reaffirms the importance the Indian government attaches to Turkmenistan, not only bilaterally but also in terms of extended neighbourhood concept and role in India-Central Asia partnership.

• Turkmenistan possesses very large reserves of natural gas. Turkmenistan is also strategically placed in Central Asia and connectivity is something on which the government feels a partnership with Turkmenistan will pay dividends. India has offered a line of credit worth $1 billion to Central Asian countries, including Turkmenistan.

Highlights of the meeting:

• The Presidents noted the importance of cooperation in the energy sector. In this context, the Turkmen side highlighted the benefits of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project for the economic development of the region and agreed to examine India’s proposals of ensuring integrity, safety and security of the project.

• They underlined that cooperation in the field of transport and connectivity is essential to the development of economic partnership between Turkmenistan and India. They emphasized on the importance of International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), Ashgabat Agreement on the Establishment of an International Transport and Transit Corridor and other regional transport corridors in this context. They acknowledged the significance of Turkmenistan as a link to other Central Asian countries and the Caspian region.

• Recalling the age-old cultural and civilizational links between Turkmenistan and India, the leaders laid special emphasis on promoting cultural cooperation for better appreciation of each other’s culture.

• India-Turkmenistan commemorative postal stamp, celebrating the 30th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries was released.

Agreements signed:

1) MoU between the Financial Monitoring Service at the ministry of finance and economy of Turkmenistan and Financial Intelligence Unit of India.

2) MoU between the government of Turkmenistan and the government of India on cooperation in the field of disaster management.

3) Programme of cooperation between the government of Turkmenistan and the government of India in the fields of culture and arts for the period 2022-2025.

4) MoU between ministry of sports and youth policy of Turkmenistan and ministry of youth affairs and sports of India on cooperation in youth matters.

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