OREANDA-NEWS. November 09, 2010. The regular, seventh meeting of the Technical Working Group on TAPI Project started its work in the Turkmen capital on November 8. It brought together leading specialists from all participating countries and representatives of the Asian Development Bank. This meeting is held according to the schedule agreed upon the results of the eleventh meeting of the TAPI Steering Committee, which took place this September in Ashgabat.

The meeting participants were unanimous that the Governments of Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India attached paramount significance to the issues regarding promotion of the TAPI Project that was of crucial regional and international significance. Underscoring the exceptional importance of this transnational infrastructure project that would facilitate long-term supplies of natural gas from Turkmenistan in countries of South Asia, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov reiterated that this project would not only bring commercial benefits to all participating countries, but also offer a powerful impetus to sustain social and economic development, strengthen peace and stability in the Asian region.

Evaluating highly the considerable progress made in the past months in promoting the TAPI Project, the meeting participants underscored the great efforts taken by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to accelerate the implementation of this transnational energy project. In this regard focusing on high timeliness of the Turkmen leader‘s international initiatives aimed at building an effective mechanism for safe transit of energy to world markets under the auspices of the UN, the meeting participants expressed belief that reliable prerequisites to successful construction of this largest energy bridge in the Asia region would be created through concerting efforts of all participating countries.

For four days the Technical Working Group members will be discussing the specific aspects related to finalizing the intergovernmental agreement on construction of the TAPI gas pipeline construction, gas sales contract and other documents dealing with technical and commercial parameters of the project.

These documents are to be submitted to the summit of heads of Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India, which will be held this December in Ashgabat. This meeting will be a critical step to promote this ambitious infrastructure project aimed at strengthening global energy security and make a specific contribution to sustainable socio-economic development of Asian countries.