India, Turkmenistan to set up joint ventures

Ashgabat, Apr 5: India today offered to set up joint ventures with Turkmenistan in leather processing and pharmaceutical sectors and assured oil companies "expertise, experience and capital" for development of petro-chemical industries in this Central Asian country.

Indian companies have also developed expertise in shallow water offshore and onshore actvities and this could be of great help to Turkmenistan in hydrocrabon industries, Vice President Hamid Ansari told Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedov during official level talks that lasted for more than an hour.

Mr Ansari, who is currently on a three-day official visit to Turkmenistan, was received at the presidential palace by Mr Berdimuhammedov and his senior cabinet ministers.

The Vice President also pledged support to Turkmenistan under technical and Economic Cooperation programme including tailor-made course in all key sectors for its professionals and experts.

India could help Turkmenistan in achieving its objective of universal access to telecommunication in the most effective manner, he said.

Mr Ansari said that Turkmenistan is a focus country for India.

Indian tractors, water pumps and agro chemicals are suitable for turkmenistan because these are cost effective. Indian infrastructure and construction companies should also look at participating in projects focussed on areas like rail and road network.

In his welcome speech, the Turkmeni President said that there is a great potential to expand our bilateral trade.

Referring to Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline, he said it can be mentioned as an example among the international projects. The realisation of the large-scale project is not only beneficial for the participating nations, but also for the whole of Asia, Mr Berdimuhammedov said.

UNI