CENTRAL AND SOUTH ASIA: REVIVAL OF HISTORICAL CONNECTIVITY

The High Level International Conference «Central and South Asia: Regional Connectivity. Challenges and Opportunities» is scheduled to be held in Tashkent on July 15-17. The forum is devoted to the revival and development of the trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian ties between Central and South Asia that have existed since the Great Silk Road in the new historical conditions. Afghanistan stands as a bridge and catalyst in implementing interaction potential between these two geostrategic regions.

Today, the Central Asia countries develop intraregional trade and economic cooperation and, at the same time, diversify their foreign trade to enter new foreign markets, including South Asia. The main trading partners of the Central Asian states in South Asia are Afghanistan, India and Pakistan. The Central Asian countries have productively cooperated with Afghanistan due to its geographical proximity, as well as the large dependence of the Afghan domestic market on imports of food and industrial goods. Transport corridors through Afghanistan provide access to the Central Asian countries to the southern seaports, create opportunities for enhancing energy cooperation and growing exports of electricity, natural gas, and oil products.

 Infrastructure projects implemented by the Central Asian states create conditions for strengthening transport and communication interaction between the countries of Central and South Asia, building up trade, economic and investment ties between them. The projects implemented by Turkmenistan on the revival of the Lazurite Corridor, on the construction of the TAPI gas pipeline and the TAP power transmission line are of particular importance in this regard.

The Afghanistan-Turkmenistan-Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey transport corridor, which revives the ancient Lapis Lazuli caravan route in the modern format of an integrated multimodal transit and transport system, is a key element for resolving a number of economic issues that are most relevant for Asia. It allows the inland countries of Central Asia and Afghanistan to get out of geographical isolation and provides access to the oceans, contributing to the acceleration of integration and broad international cooperation.

The Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India transnational gas pipeline and the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan high-voltage electric highway under construction are to intensify regional trade in natural gas and electricity, which the economies of South Asia are in dire need of. Each of these large-scale transnational projects has not only economic, but also social and humanitarian significance. They contribute to creation of new jobs, development of territories, development of business contacts and humanitarian ties of Asian peoples, bounded by common historical and cultural roots.

Ogulgozel Rejepova

Central and South Asia: revival of historical connectivity (turkmenistan.gov.tm)