Ambassador’s remarks at the reception on the occasion of 62nd RepublicDay of India (25 January, 2011; President Hotel, Ashgabat, 1900 onwards)
Your Excellency, Mr. Yagshygeldy Kakaev, Minister for State Agency on Management and Use of Hydrocarbon Resources in Turkmenistan.
- Excellencies, Ambassadors and Heads of UN and other International Organizations,
- Dignitaries from Turkmenistan,
- Distinguished Diplomats,
- Ladies & Gentlemen,
First and the foremost, I extend very warm greetings to all guests present here as we celebrate India’s 62nd Republic Day. We are proud that India is the biggest democracy in the world, among the fastest growing economies and an IT superpower. With our huge market of 1.1 billion people, we offer to the outside world several opportunities for trade, economic cooperation and investment.
India and Turkmenistan have enjoyed historically close and friendly ties. Many of you here are perhaps aware that we have a historical monument in India called Turkman Gate in Delhi, which was built in 1650s, almost 350 years back, in honour of Turkmen soldiers serving in India. Bairam Khan, the mentor of Indian Emperor Akbar and his son Abdur Rahim Khan-e-Khana, a renowned philosopher/poet were Turkmen who served the Moghul Empire in India. Archaeological finds in Nissa near Ashgabat have revealed contacts between the cities of the Indus Valley Civilization and the Bronze Age settlements in the south of Turkmenistan.
In the recent times, our relationship has been marked by steady growth and progress. During last year, our bilateral relations have made tremendous strides. President of Turkmenistan, HE Mr. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, made a highly successful visit to India in May 2010. Several important agreements were signed during this landmark visit. We will continue with the happy tradition of high-level political exchanges between our two countries in the years ahead.
We hold in high esteem the vision and the leadership of President Berdimuhamedov in the strengthening of relations between India and Turkmenistan.
It was at the initiative of President Gurbanguly Berdimhademov that the first TAPI Summit was held in Ashgabat last month. The leaders of the four countries met here to re-affirm their conviction and commitment to make this project a reality. The presence of Your Excellency, Mr. Kakaev, here is a testimony of the highest priority attached by Turkmenistan to the TAPI project. It is said that there are diplomats and there are bureaucrats serving in a government. On a personal note I may say that with my long expertise in the hydrocarbon sector, you may call me a petrocrat for the implementation of TAPI project. While participating in various TAPI technical working group meetings in Ashgabat we have worked very closely with Mr. Kakaev.
It is not only the TAPI project, we are also working with the Government of Turkmenistan in setting up of an IT Centre in Ashgabat as a symbol of our friendship.
We are fortunate that we have direct air links between our two countries, with 8 flights a week. As many as 1,500 Turkmen nationals are visiting every year to India for trade, tourism and academic studies. We are happy that Turkmen nationals are going to India regularly for short-term training programmes and also benefitting from scholarships being offered by the Government of India.
Our present bilateral trade turn over is rather small, much below the potential which exists for trade and economic cooperation. We are confident that once TAPI gas pipeline is operational, the annual trade turnover will jump from under US$ 100 million at present to cross at least the US$ 1 billion mark.
We will be organizing this year Indian Film Festivals and bringing Cultural troupes from India to this beautiful city and other parts of Turkmenistan, joining in efforts to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s Independence.
I want to thank once again all the dignitaries and guests for your presence here. I particularly want to acknowledge with grateful thanks the support Your Excellency Mr. Kakaev has provided to us for strengthening further of bilateral relations.
Thank you.
online.tm