President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov in a working meeting on Tuesday focused on further development of the country’s natural gas export routes.
The working meeting was devoted to activities in the fuel and energy complex of Turkmenistan and was attended by deputy chairmen of the Cabinet of Ministers who are overseeing the country's fuel and energy complex, the foreign policy and the economy.
The Vice-Premier overseeing the country's fuel and energy complex Shakhym Abdrakhmanov assured that in order to successfully fulfill the instructions of the Head of State to increase Turkmen natural gas exports and expand international gas pipeline routes, the relevant structures will implement coordinated activities.
President Berdimuhamedov said to this end it is necessary to focus on the further development of constructive ties with the transit countries of Turkmen natural gas, to intensify the construction of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline, addressing a number of instructions to the Vice-Premier.
The Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers in charge of economic and financial issues Serdar Berdimuhamedov briefed on the works to strengthen the Turkmen economy. Emphasizing that development of the oil and gas industry on the basis of scientific achievements, increasing the supply of energy resources to foreign countries are among the priorities of state policy, the Vice-Premier said the necessary measures will be taken to effectively address these tasks.
The working meeting continued with the report of the Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Minister of Foreign Affairs Rashid Meredov. Following the briefing President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said the successful implementation of large-scale fuel and energy projects should be approached very responsibly and comprehensively.
A high level Turkmen delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Vepa Hajiyev and a Pakistani delegation led by Minister for Energy Hammad Azhar in a meeting on Monday in Islamabad stressed the need to expedite the TAPI gas pipeline project. Hammad Azhar further expressed the resolve of the Government of Pakistan for early completion of the TAPI project on account of Pakistan’s need for additional supplies of natural gas.
