The negotiations over technical works of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project are underway with the Turkmen officials, the TOLOnews television network reported, citing the Ministry of Finance (MoF) of Afghanistan as saying on Thursday.
The Afghan Ministry added that the work on the project will be resumed after acquisition of land.
“Our technical team is working with the technical team of Turkmenistan. We are trying to finish work on the acquisition of land and to resume the project,” a spokesman for the MoF Ahmad Wali Haqmal said.
He also informed that the financial issues of the project have been resolved.
The Deputy Minister of Economy of Afghanistan Abdul Latif Nazari stated that the TAPI pipeline project would help the country’s economy.
“The TAPI pipeline project is important for the trade and transit of Afghanistan and the region. The Ministry of Economy is attempting to attract investment for this project,” Abdul Latif Nazari said.
Economists believe the Afghan government should attempt to start work on the TAPI project, according to the TOLOnews.
“Lack of implementation of TAPI project or a delay in its implementation will affect Afghanistan’s economic development,” an economist Siar Qureshi said.
On the sidelines of the third meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Neighboring Countries of Afghanistan, the acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan Amir Khan Muttaqi met the Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov, where they also discussed the TAPI and TAP projects.