National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Hero-Arkadag, speaking on March 19 at the International Conference “International Year of Peace and Trust: the Role of Interregional Cooperation in Ensuring Sustainable Development”, emphasized the important geopolitical and geo-economic significance of the TAPI gas pipeline project.

“I would like to draw your attention to the geopolitical and geo-economic significance of the energy, transport and infrastructure projects being implemented in the abovementioned regions. They are aimed at uniting Central and South Asia through the creation of new energy, transport, industrial and technological corridors,” said Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, whose speech was published on March 20 in the central media of the country.

“The Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline is one of the significant projects.  The goal of this project is to provide countries with a total population of 1 billion 750 million people with natural gas in the modern era,” Hero-Arkadag emphasized.

“Today we can confidently say that work on this project is being carried out in accordance with a specific program. A 214-kilometer section of this gas pipeline, passing through the territory of our country, has been built. In September last year, the construction of the 153-kilometer section Serhetabat-Herat, called “Arkadagyň ak ýoly”, was launched. Currently, its construction is underway on the territory of Afghanistan,” the Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty continued.

“Speaking about the TAPI gas pipeline project, I would like to place special emphasis on its high social significance. According to experts, the construction of the gas pipeline and related infrastructure systems, new institutions and enterprises will create 12 thousand jobs in Afghanistan, as well as resolve a number of key humanitarian issues in this country,” Hero-Arkadag emphasized.

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov also noted that "The implementation of the project is associated with the solution of numerous legal, commercial, and financial issues. Within the framework of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project, work in the oil and gas sector must be carried out in accordance with the norms and standards formed in international practice." Hero-Arkadag expressed confidence "that the current conference will allow the heads, specialists, and experts of energy companies, consulting firms, and banks to exchange views on joint activities within the framework of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline".