On February 22, 2018, in the city of Mary, the 25th meeting of the Steering Committee for the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India Gas Pipeline Project was held with the participation of high-level leaders and representatives of the sectoral ministries and departments of the participating countries of the project, as well as the Asian Development Bank.
The agenda included key issues for the further practical implementation of this ambitious project. In particular, it was decided to divide the construction of the project into stages and approved a timetable for their implementation. In addition, the meeting participants paid special attention to the election of a financial adviser, the possibilities of attracting foreign investments, and also discussed the legal status of the agreements planned for signing with the host governments (Afghanistan and Pakistan).
During the meeting, the report on the work done by TAPI Pipeline Company Limited, headed by the State Concern Turkmengaz, was considered. The participants also agreed and made decisions on important issues related to legal and technical aspects.
The participants, having confirmed the high interest of their countries in the speedy implementation of the construction of this gas pipeline and the supply of Turkmen natural gas, discussed a number of other issues on previously reached agreements aimed at intensifying joint work.
The participants of the Steering Committee meeting noted the importance of the progress achieved in the promotion of the TAPI project, stressing in this connection the constructive efforts of President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov aimed at accelerating the realization of this grandiose plan and expressed support for the international initiatives of the Turkmen leader in the formation under the auspices of the United Nations of an effective mechanism capable of providing security of transit of energy resources.
