KABUL (SW) – The de-facto Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that several significant projects between Afghanistan and Turkmenistan are set to begin soon.
The first preparatory meeting of the joint commission for the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline, Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (TAP ) power project, Fiber Optic networks, and railway projects has been successfully held.
With the initial discussions complete, practical work on these key initiatives is expected to commence in the near future.
Zia Ahmad Takal, the deputy spokesperson for the ministry, said that during the Saturday’s meeting, the commission members presented methodologies for starting the practical work on the TAPI, TAP, fiber optic, and railway projects.
“It is anticipated that these projects will be officially launched in a grand ceremony in the coming days,” he said.
Some economic experts emphasize the significance of initiating these projects between Afghanistan and Turkmenistan, noting that the successful implementation of these large-scale projects could contribute to Afghanistan’s economic growth.
Economic analyst Zohur Mudaber highlighted that the commencement of these major projects will solidify Afghanistan’s economic position in the region and globally.
He said, “With the launch of the TAPI project, Afghanistan will receive an annual transit fee of $400 million, create thousands of job opportunities, boost economic growth, increase purchasing power, and enhance the country’s regional and global standing.”
Another economic expert, Ahmad Farid Arefi, added, “The realization of these projects will benefit Afghanistan through the transit of goods, generating significant transit fees, reducing unemployment, and increasing the purchasing ability of the people.”
Amir Khan Muttaqi, the acting Foreign Minister, had previously stated that the implementation of the TAPI project would provide Afghanistan with approximately $450 million annually in transit fees and five billion cubic meters of gas.
The TAPI project spans 1,840 kilometers, and upon completion, it will transport 33 billion cubic meters of Turkmen gas through Afghanistan to Pakistan and India each year. The total estimated cost of this project is 10 billion dollars.
