President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov launches the construction of railway Serhetabat – Turgundy

During the working trip to Mary Velayat, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov launched the construction of new railway from Turkmen border to the city of Turgundy in Afghanistan.

In the morning, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov arrived by helicopter to the border station of Serhetabat.

Having congratulated numerous participants of the event on remarkable events and noted its importance for neighbouring countries and entire region, the Head of the State made a speech.

Today, we witness the historical event, the President said. Independent neutral Turkmenistan pursues active open door and positive neutrality policy, which is comprehensively supported and recognized by international community what is indicated the right course of peace-making and constructive cooperation.

The development of transport communications becomes one of the important conditions of efficient international cooperation, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov continued. In this aspect, Turkmen people, who from the times primordial thought of the road constructions as of noble cause, deservingly continues this tradition. Automobile roads and railways are built in the country. These roads entirely meet international standards and allow integrating our transport network to the logistic system of the region.

Important role is given to the involvement of entire potential of the railway sphere in the development of all branches of national economy and multimodal system of Turkmenistan. Therefore, the greatest attention is paid to the expansion and modernization of its infrastructure.

As an example, the Head of the State gave the railway Kazakhstan – Turkmenistan – Iran, Kerky (formerly Atamyrat) – Ymamnazar – Akina. These and other routes as well those that were planned to be built open new opportunities for fruitful relations between the countries of the region and for consolidation of their economic power.

We render comprehensive support and assistance to fraternal Afghan people and will continue putting all efforts that enhance the revival of the neighbouring state, the Head of the State said, having highlighted that recently, Turkmenistan hosted the VII Regional Economic Cooperation Conference of Afghanistan where important agreements of regional importance were reached.

Speaking of the construction of transnational Turkmenistan – Afghanistan – Pakistan – India gas line initiated by our country, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted that the project stipulates to lay electrical and fibre optic lines along the pipeline what emphasize the role of the pipeline in dynamic development of the region.

Having highlighted the decision on increase of the volumes of energy supplied from Turkmenistan to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the Head of the State directed Turkmen railway constructors, who commenced the construction of the roads to Turgundy by the request of Afghanistan.

Having congratulated again the participants on this historical event, the Head of the State expressed the confidence that new infrastructure facility will be built qualitatively and make positive effect on the improvement of life level of Afghan and other nations of the region.

The train set out from Serhetabat toward Afghan city of Turgundy in front of the participants of the event. There are construction personnel in its first carriage who will built the railway in Afghanistan.

It was followed by track machines and rail cranes, various equipment and construction material on cargo platforms. There are 42 carriages and trolleys extended in the long chain of the train loaded with all necessary for the construction of new interstate railway line.

In general, Turkmen road construction personnel will have not only to build the railway but also to develop its entire infrastructure. All of these will allow to increase throughput capacity of Turgundy railway station and improve its importance for the trade turnover of Afghanistan that does not have the access to sea. This railway allows the country exporting efficiently its production to external markets and importing required foreign goods.

Having seen off the train, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov held the meeting with the personnel of railway industry who would have to work on this project.

Turkmenistan occupies deserving place among the states of the world with the highest indicators of the development in all directions, the President noted. Large-scale programmes, which receive considerable contribution from the personnel of railway transport taking part not only in national but also in important international projects, are successfully implemented.

The project of Asian International railway transport corridor is aimed at the inclusion of Afghanistan as the component part of regional transport network with the perspective of entering of Asian Pacific countries. Thus, the country will have a real opportunity to be important link of international transport corridors running across Central Asia in North – South and East – West directions.

It is supposed that the railways and automobile roads will connect Tuurgundy in Herat Province of Afghanistan with Ashgabat and farther with Turkmenbashy Port on Caspian Sea. After, the corridor will be continued across the sea to Baku and farther via Tbilisi to Ankara and Istanbul.

The rail and automobile roads that already exist in Turkmenistan make considerable part of this transport corridor and inclusion of Turgundy into it is aimed at the facilitation of the logistics of transit, improvement of economic integration of Afghanistan and increase of the trade volumes in the region.

President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov also noted that together with the construction of railways and automobile roads, the electrical lines are laid as well. Our country taking into account additional power production is not only willing to increase the volumes of energy supplies to Afghanistan but also is carrying out the work for fulfilment of the plans on its export under the project Turkmenistan – Uzbekistan – Tajikistan – Afghanistan – Pakistan.

The project of the construction of Turkmenistan – Afghanistan – Pakistan – India gas line is also very important in the context of the consolidation of energy security and stability in the region.

The implementation of new transport project – the railway Serhetabat – Turgundy, will allow making additional prepositions for the development of the economy of Afghanistan and will give new opportunities for activation of small and medium business in this country and for entering of Afghan commodities to the markets of neighbouring states and for the increment of export potential.

President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov also noted that this project would support the increment of the volumes of interstate cargo traffic in the region as well as to the establishment of Turkmenistan as important transport and logistic centre of the region and the continent.

Having expressed the gratitude to all personnel of railway transport and other specialists for their selfless work, the Head of the State highlighted that the nation is proud of Turkmen railway industry workers and all employees of national transport sphere who successfully work on the projects of international significance.

Railway construction staff assured that they would put all efforts for completion of all planned work within the deadline.

The President of Turkmenistan wished everyone strong health, great success in the work for steadfast development of this important branch.

After some time, the helicopter of the Head of the State landed in the airport of Mary. On the same day, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov completed his working trip to Mary Velayat and returned to Ashgabat.