Context: For the first time, the Indian President visited Turkmenistan, where he signed four agreements, including one on financial intelligence and disaster management, as well as an agreement to enhance bilateral trade and energy cooperation to further develop the comprehensive alliance.

• Previously, India and Turkmenistan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Disaster Management Cooperation.

Key Points of the Bilateral Meeting

• The importance of the International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and the Ashgabat Agreement on International Transport and Transit Corridor were emphasised.
• India's Chabahar port in Iran might be utilised to increase commerce between India and Central Asia.
• When discussing the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline, India requested that technical and expert level discussions cover pipeline security and fundamental commercial concepts.
• India underlined its willingness to collaborate with Turkmenistan in its digitalization efforts, noting that space may be another area of mutual benefit.
• The need of organising frequent cultural events on each other's land was emphasised because both nations had centuries-old civilisational and cultural ties.
• The need of both countries cooperating closely on the efficient control of the Covid-19 epidemic that has impacted their populations was emphasised.
• It was agreed to expand collaboration under the framework established by the India-Central Asia Summit.

India expressed gratitude to Turkmenistan for its support for India's permanent membership in a reformed and expanded United Nations Security Council, as well as for India's initiatives as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during the year 2021-22.

• Both share a broad'regional consensus' on Afghanistan-related issues, including the formation of a truly representative and inclusive government, combating terrorism and drug trafficking, the central role of the UN, providing immediate humanitarian assistance to Afghans, and preserving the rights of women, children, and other national ethnic groups and minorities.

Major Issues in India-Turkmenistan Relations

• Turkmenistan borders Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the north and east, Iran to the south, and Afghanistan to the southeast.
• India's 'Connect Central Asia' strategy of 2012 envisions greater mutual links with the area, with energy connectivity being a key component.
• India has signed on to the Ashgabat accord, which calls for the establishment of an international transport and transit corridor between Central Asia and the Persian Gulf in order to considerably increase commerce and investment.
• The TAPI pipeline (Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India) is seen as a "essential pillar" in India's economic relations with Turkmenistan.
• In 2015, the Azadi Institute of World Languages in Ashgabat created a Hindi Chair, where university students are taught Hindi.
• Turkmen people are trained in India via the ITEC (Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation) programme.
• Turkmenistan supports India's permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.
• Turkmenistan has a GDP of more than USD 40 billion, yet bilateral trade with India is below potential. India has the potential to expand its economic footprint in Turkmenistan, notably in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector. This would aid in the preservation of the future trade balance.

The third round of the India-Central Asia Dialogue was recently conducted in New Delhi.

• It is a ministerial-level discussion between India and Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
• Turkmenistan has enormous natural gas reserves.
• Turkmenistan is also strategically located in Central Asia, and India believes that a collaboration with Turkmenistan will yield rewards in terms of connectivity.