Turkmenistan, Qatar seek to expand cooperation
By Nigar Abbasova
Turkmenistan and Qatar, the two countries with tremendous hydrocarbon resources, are currently considering ways to expand bilateral relations.
The issue was on the highest agenda during the meeting between Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedov and Qatar’s Foreign Minister Khalid bin Mohammad Al Attiyah.
The sides expressed their readiness to expand productive cooperation for the development of trade and economic ties, mentioning that the two countries have good prospects for that.
Oil and gas sphere is considered to be one of the key and strategic aspects of intergovernmental relations between the two countries, which are among the world's leading exporters of natural gas.
Such spheres as investments, trade, high technologies and construction are among the most perspective in Turkmen-Qatari relations.
The Turkmen president has recently invited representatives of Qatar’s business communities to participate in the implementation of Turkmenistan – Afghanistan – Pakistan – India (TAPI) gas pipeline project, which is expected to transport 33 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas per year.
The project is expected to provide the long-term deliveries of natural gas to the countries of South-East Asia and promote solving of economic, social and humanitarian problems of the region.
The two countries signed a number of MoU’s on cooperation in the spheres of transportation, finance, tourism, sports, culture and education during the official visit of Qatari emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to Ashgabat in March 2016.
Being the sixth in the world for the volume of natural gas reserves, Turkmenistan produces about 70-80 billion cubic meters of gas a year, while most of its proven gas reserves are located in the Amu Darya basin in the south-east and in the Murgab South Caspian basins in the western part of the country.
Oil and natural gas account for about 55 percent of the Qatar’s gross domestic product. Petroleum has made the country one of the world’s fastest-growing countries with the highest level of income per capita.
Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in 1996.
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Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova
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