India, Turkmenistan take steps for hydrocarbon cooperation

New Delhi, May 26 (ANI): Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday hoped that discussions between representatives of oil and gas companies of the two countries would create conditions for mutually beneficial cooperation in the hydrocarbon sector.

"It was agreed that the Ministers on both sides responsible for oil and gas will take forward ideas for intensifying joint efforts in various projects in the oil and gas sector," a joint statement signed by the both sides said.

The leaders also hoped that discussions on the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project would continue with a view to realize it early.

"To intensify economic engagement and extend cooperation in areas in which India had gained considerable expertise, the Indian side proposed to conduct a feasibility study on setting up a gas based fertilizer plant in Turkmenistan," the statement said.

"The two sides appreciated the role of the India-Turkmenistan Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technological Cooperation in enhancing trade and economic cooperation as well as cultural relations," the joint statement added. (ANI)