Turkmenistan and Afghanistan deepen strategic partnership

In late February and early March 2024, two important visits of Afghan government delegations to Turkmenistan took place at once. The delegation of diplomats, led by the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan Amir Khan Mottaki, was warmly accepted by the Turkmen side in the last days of February. A week later, the visit took place another government delegation from Afghanistan, headed by the Acting Minister of Industry and Trade of Afghanistan, Alhaj Nuruddin Azizi. These high-level visits were a testament to the growing strategic cooperation between the two countries and reflected their desire to comprehensively strengthen mutually beneficial ties.

The program of the visit of the Afghan industrial and business delegation was very rich and multifaceted. It included high-level talks, visits to key economic facilities of Turkmenistan, organization of an exhibition of Afghan goods and a business forum, as well as the conclusion of a number of agreements in various areas. This indicates that the Turkmen-Afghan partnership is reaching a qualitatively new level, covering an ever wider range of areas of interaction.

Such a large-scale program of the visit underlines the strategic nature of relations between the two countries. Turkmenistan and Afghanistan share not only common historical roots and cultural traditions, but also similar views on the prospects of the region's development. Both countries are in favor of strengthening security and stability in Central Asia, as well as establishing close trade and economic ties on the principles of mutual respect and good neighborliness.

During the visit of the first Afghan delegation, special attention was paid to the implementation of major infrastructure projects capable of becoming engines of economic growth in the region. These include the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline, the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (TAP) power transmission line and railroads connecting the two countries.

High-level Dialogue: opening new horizons of partnership

At the start of the Afghan delegation's visit to Turkmenistan, the following events took place meeting The visit was organized at a high level with the participation of Turkmenistan's Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov and the head of the Afghan delegation, Acting Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Mottaki. This gave the visit a special status and set the tone for subsequent negotiations.

During the meeting, the sides conducted a detailed analysis of the situation around the implementation of key regional projects with the participation of the two countries. Special attention was paid to the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline, the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (TAP) power transmission line and the construction of railroads in the Afghan direction. The foreign ministers emphasized the high degree of readiness of both sides to further advance these projects in Afghanistan.

An important aspect of the talks was the discussion of expanding opportunities for training highly qualified personnel for various sectors of the Afghan economy in Turkmen universities and colleges. This testifies to the partners' desire to lay a solid foundation for long-term cooperation in the human dimension.

Following the meeting, the sides agreed to maintain a regular dialog between the foreign ministries of the two countries. This will make it possible to promptly resolve emerging issues and timely adjust the areas of partnership in accordance with the rapidly changing regional agenda.

The high-level meeting set the tone and identified key vectors for further negotiations during the Afghan visit to Turkmenistan. The frank exchange of views at the start of the visit testifies to the growing trust between the partners and their willingness to deepen cooperation in the interests of both states and the region as a whole.

Gateway to Central Asia: Exploring the logistics potential

As part of the rich program of the visit, the Afghan delegation visited the Turkmenbashi International Sea Port. This facility is a key link in Turkmenistan's transportation and logistics infrastructure and one of the largest port hubs on the Caspian Sea.

For landlocked Afghanistan, the development of cooperation with the Turkmenbashi port opens new opportunities for increasing exports and expanding trade and economic ties. During the visit to the port, the head of the Afghan delegation, Nuruddin Azizi, was presented the possibilities of modern terminals and warehouse complexes, the conditions of cargo storage in the "customs storage" mode without customs duties.

The guests were particularly interested in the possibilities of storage and transshipment of Afghanistan's export goods - vegetables, fruits, dried fruits in refrigerated containers at the port terminals. This opens new prospects for Afghan agricultural producers to enter the world markets through the transportation corridors of Turkmenistan.

The visit to the port of Turkmenbashi was a clear demonstration of the logistical advantages of partnership with Turkmenistan for the Afghan delegation. The head of the delegation highly appreciated the work done to develop the port infrastructure and expressed interest in using transit opportunities of Turkmenbashi within the framework of the international transport project "Lapis Lazuli Corridor".

Thus, the visit to the seaport was an important milestone in the formation of a common vision of the prospects of Turkmen-Afghan cooperation in the transport and logistics sector. The parties were convinced in practice of the high transit potential, which opens new horizons for the expansion of bilateral trade and economic ties.

Presentation of economic potential: exhibition and business forum

The central event of the Afghan delegation's visit to Turkmenistan was the organization of a large-scale exhibition of Afghan goods and a business forum of business circles of the two countries in Ashgabat. This large-scale event became a unique platform for presentation of Afghanistan's economic potential and establishment of direct business contacts between companies.

A variety of sectors of the Afghan economy - from industry and construction to agriculture and handicrafts - were widely represented at the exhibition. More than 230 companies and firms from different regions of Afghanistan demonstrated their products and services. Many of them entered the Turkmen market for the first time, expecting to expand cooperation.

The exposition of the exhibition reflected the diversification of the Afghan economy and the growth of domestic production. Turkmen businessmen and officials were able to see for themselves the wide opportunities for increasing trade and economic partnership with Afghanistan.

A representative Turkmen-Afghan business forum was held in parallel with the exhibition. Its agenda covered the key areas of bilateral cooperation - energy, transportation, trade and investment. The parties exchanged views on further development of interaction and identified growth points for increasing trade turnover.

Another equally important event within the framework of the Afghan delegation's visit was the meeting of Turkmen and Afghan women entrepreneurs held at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan. The event, timed to coincide with International Women's Day, was a clear demonstration of the increasingly prominent role of women in the economic life of both countries. The Afghan business delegation was headed by Feriba Naseri, who represented about 15 compatriots, each of whom spoke about their business activities. The Turkmen side was represented by women from the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, as well as the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, working in areas such as carpet arts, fashion, floristry, jewelry and the IT sector.

As noted by the forum participants, such business contacts are the most effective mechanism for promoting economic cooperation. They allow bringing trade and investment partnership to a new level by establishing direct links between companies.
The exhibition and business forum in Ashgabat demonstrated the parties' focus on maximizing the existing potential for enhancing trade and economic ties. The economic dimension was one of the main highlights of the Afghan delegation's visit to Turkmenistan.

A Sign of Special Attention: The National Leader of the Turkmen People Met with Afghan Delegation

On March 4, a significant event during the visit of the Afghan delegation was the visit of Turkmen National Leader Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to an exhibition of goods from Afghanistan. This emphasized the high status of bilateral cooperation and the special attention paid to it by the leadership of Turkmenistan.

Accompanied by the head of the Afghan delegation, Nuruddin Azizi, Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty toured the exposition and familiarized himself with samples of products from various sectors of the Afghan economy - from construction materials to textiles and agricultural products. The National Leader highly appreciated the presented range of goods and achievements of Afghan producers.

During the business meeting with the leadership of the Afghan delegation, the key aspects of further development of bilateral ties were touched upon. Special emphasis was placed on the implementation of major infrastructure projects in the energy and transport sectors, such as the TAPI gas pipeline, the TAP power transmission line, and the construction of railroads.

Hero Arkadag emphasized the importance of these energy and logistics arteries not only for bilateral relations, but also for the entire region of Central and South Asia. He expressed the readiness of the Turkmen side to fully promote these projects.

In turn, the head of the Afghan delegation highly appreciated Turkmenistan's assistance in the socio-economic revival of the neighboring country. He reiterated Afghanistan's interest in using transit opportunities of international transport corridors passing through the territory of Turkmenistan.

This bilateral meeting within the framework of the exhibition of Afghan goods was a confirmation of the parties' desire to bring the partnership to a new level. There is a convergence of approaches to the prospects of regional integration in the context of the implementation of major infrastructure projects in Central Asia.

Business in action: exchange trades increase reciprocal trading  

The rich program of the Afghan delegation's visit to Turkmenistan also included the off-site trading of the State Commodity Exchange within the framework of the exhibition of Afghan goods in Ashgabat on March 5. This became a practical platform for establishing direct commercial ties between businessmen of the two countries.

Representatives of state and private companies of Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, as well as regional and foreign countries took part in the exchange trading. Over 70 contracts totaling over 107 million US dollars and 33 million Turkmen manats were concluded during the trading session.

The multi-million dollar transactions covered a wide range of goods and services - from industrial equipment and construction materials to food and consumer goods. The range presented allowed to identify the most promising "points of growth" for establishing long-term mutually beneficial trade and economic cooperation between partners.

The exchange trading format has proved to be an effective mechanism for establishing a direct dialog between business circles and prompt contracting of supplies of demanded products. Holding such events within the framework of official visits allows bringing the economic component of bilateral ties to a new qualitative level.

The success of exchange trading in Ashgabat has clearly demonstrated that mutual trade can and should become one of the drivers of comprehensive rapprochement between Turkmenistan and Afghanistan. This lays a solid foundation for further growth of trade turnover and expansion of investment partnership between the two countries.

Final meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan and outlining vectors for further cooperation

On March 5, the final chord of the program of the Afghan visit to Turkmenistan was the meeting of Turkmen Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov with the delegation of Afghanistan headed by Acting Minister of Industry and Trade Alhaj Nuruddin Azizi.

At these talks, the sides summarized the results of the visit, outlined the agreements reached and identified promising areas for further deepening of bilateral partnership.

During the meeting, a detailed review of the key issues raised during the negotiations of the Afghan delegation in Ashgabat was given. Particular attention was paid to the implementation of large-scale infrastructure projects in the energy and transport sectors - the TAPI gas pipeline, the TAP power transmission line, and railway communication.

The sides noted the achieved high level of mutual understanding on all these strategic projects, important both for bilateral relations and interregional ties in Central and South Asia. The determination of the partners to continue the full-scale implementation of these initiatives was emphasized.

In addition, the meeting discussed potential growth points for increasing trade turnover between the two countries. These include utilization of Turkmenistan's logistics potential, development of infrastructure networks and transport corridors.  

The concluding high-level talks were a logical finale of the substantial program of the Afghan delegation in Turkmenistan. They recorded the growing dynamics and diversification of partnership ties between the two countries, expressed mutual interest in their further expansion and deepening.

Water issue: Turkmenistan's call for rational use of transboundary water resources

During the meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan with the Afghan delegation, special attention was paid to the issues of water cooperation. The Turkmen side constructively urged the Afghan partners to take a rational and balanced approach to the joint use of transboundary water resources in the region.

Ashgabat emphasized the importance of scientifically grounded water withdrawal from transboundary rivers taking into account real needs of all countries for harmonious water use. In addition, the need to attract highly qualified specialists for effective operation of the hydraulic structures under construction on the shared watercourses was emphasized.

Turkmenistan emphasized the observance of interests of all states in transboundary river basins in accordance with the norms of international law. The call for openness, equality and good-neighborliness in joint rational water resources management sounded as the main principle of the Turkmen side's position.

It is obvious that both sides are eager to develop mutually beneficial solutions to the sensitive water issue on the basis of constructive dialog, mutual understanding and in the spirit of good-neighborliness. Ashgabat and Kabul are interested in finding optimal ways of equitable distribution of water resources for sustainable development of the countries in the region.

The positive and pragmatic mood of the negotiations demonstrates the readiness of the two neighboring states to establish effective cooperation in the water sector on the platform of mutual respect, taking into account the interests of all parties and within the framework of universally recognized norms of international law.

The visits of Afghan delegations to Turkmenistan have become an important event for strengthening bilateral diplomatic, trade and economic ties. The exhibition of Afghan goods in Ashgabat, which allowed establishing direct business contacts, was the centerpiece.

Much attention was paid to the implementation of major regional infrastructure projects - TAPI gas pipeline, TAP power transmission line, and railway branches. The sides confirmed their readiness to promote these projects.

Afghanistan is interested in utilizing the transit potential of Turkmenistan, in particular the capabilities of the Turkmenbashi International Sea Port. This could become a factor in the recovery of the Afghan economy.

The visit of the National Leader of the Turkmen people Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to the exhibition demonstrated the high level of relations and interest in deepening partnership.

In general, the visit gave impetus to bilateral cooperation, strengthened the atmosphere of trust and created conditions for the activation of ties between the business circles of the two countries.