Major Gas Pipeline Project Accord Signed!
After many years of discussions and negotiations, the governments of Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Pakistan and India have finally signed an accord to build a $7.6 billion pipeline that will take 33 billion of cubic meters (bcm) of gas a year gas from Turkmenistan through Afghanistan into Pakistan and India.
For Afghanistan’s economy, this is great news. “Afghanistan will get 1.8 million cubic meters of gas in a period of two years but will increase to 5.1 billion cubic meters afterwards, and hundreds of families residing near the pipeline will benefit from the project,” Deputy spokesman for President Karzai, Siamak Herawi told Afghanistan’s Tolo news. Herawi also said that “Afghanistan will earn up to 400 million dollars through transit, after the project is successfully implemented.”
The contract was officially signed by President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov of Tukmenistan, President Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan and the Indian Oil and Gas Minister, Murli Dayra.
Below is the text from President Hamid Karzai’s speech at the event:
My brother Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, President of Turkmenistan,
Excellency Asif Ali Zardari, President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan,
Excellency Murli Dayra Minister of Oil and Natural Gas of India,
Honorable Haruhiko Kuroda, President of the Asian Development Bank,
Distinguished delegates,
Ladies and gentlemen,
I am delighted of the opportunity to attend today’s meeting which marks a historical milestone in the implementation of TAPI Gas Pipeline project, a prominent example of regional economic cooperation in the area of energy in our region. Let me express my sincere gratitude to you, President Berdimuhamedov for hosting this highly important meeting and for the warm hospitality extended to us.
Allow me to also to express my special thanks to the Asian Development Bank and to you Mr. Haruhiko Kuroda for your efforts in revitalizing this project and the continued support provided by the Asian Development Bank towards realization of this large scale regional project.
Excellencies,
Distinguished delegates,
Ladies and gentlemen,
The people of Afghanistan attach a particular importance to an expanded regional cooperation and projects of regional nature and thus, from the very early days of the Interim Administration, I have closely been following up issues related to this huge regional undertaking. TAPI Gas Pipeline project and other such projects of this nature, in addition to ensuring enormous economic benefits through creation of employment and generation of income for the people of participating countries, play a constructive role in strengthening relations between the people of the region, enhance economic ties, build further confidence between the governments of our region. TAPI Gas Pipeline project will contribute significantly to energy security and will provide a reliable source of energy to our countries.
I am pleased with the level and pace of progress in the work of TAPI’ Technical Working Group and the Steering Committee and further, I am glad that following almost a decade of efforts by our countries, today we are witnessing the signing of Inter-Governmental Agreement and Gas Pipeline Framework Agreement. Signing of these agreements will take us one step closer to the implementation of this project. I hope that the relevant organs of countries party to this project will make every possible effort to expedite the implementation process. Afghanistan will make every effort to ensure the security of the pipeline.
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
On this very important occasion, let me once again highlight our vision for regional cooperation which is to contribute to regional stability and prosperity, and to enhance the conditions for Afghanistan to resume its central role as a land bridge in this region. We will be delighted to share the unique benefits offered by our centrality with our neighbors and countries in the region and provide them with further opportunity to make the best use of Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan as an excellent forum and an effective tool to this end.
Given the economic potential that exists in our countries, it is my profound desire that this quadrilateral cooperation framework which has been formed on the basis of our determination to implement TAPI Gas Pipeline project, can be further expanded to other areas of mutual interests and hence, be a major contributor to regional integration and improved regional stability and prosperity. At the end, let me once again thank you Mr. President for your personal support to this project and for your efforts to make this important meeting taking place in historical Central Asian city of Ashgabat and for the kind and warm hospitality extended to us by the people and Government of Turkmenistan.
Thank you,
December 11, 2010
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Posted in: Afghanistan's Economy, Reconstruction and Development, Security in Afghanistan
One Response
Afghanistan was the main business Way in 18s and 19s, but due to world war one and two and thn fighting amongselves and cause of neighboors, Afghanistan lost its benefit….
Like before Afghanistan Was the main way for trade like known as Silk Road….it still can be the huge way of trade between, Northeren Asia, Central Asia, Easteren Asia and westeren Asia…..the best will be for Iran, Pakistan, India, China, and Japan becuase the geoghraphial place of Afghanistan is like the heart of Asia…I hope security come to this tremendous land, and this land start its business again to the world….
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