Lok Sabha Question No. 2372 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-05-09
Subject: Ashgabat Agreement
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Shrirang Appa Barne, SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE, ANANDRAO  ADSUL, NAGENDRA KUMAR PRADHAN, VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

## (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2372

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 09 TH   MAY, 2016

## ASHGABAT AGREEMENT

## 2372. SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE:

DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:

SHRI ANANDRAO ADSUL:

SHRI NAGENDRA KUMAR PRADHAN:

SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वािणÏय एवं उɮयोग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has decided to accede to the Ashgabat Agreement which is an international transport and transit corridor facilitating the transportation of goods between Central Asia and the Persian Gulf;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the salient features of the said agreement;
- (c) whether joining the corridor is likely to facilitate India's trade with the Eurasian region as well as the creation of the International North South Transport Corridor between India and Russia;
- (d) if so, the details thereof along with the names of the other member countries of the said agreement; and
- (e) the extent to which India is likely to be benefited from the said agreement?

## ANSWER

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THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

## (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

- (a)  &  (b):    Yes,  Madam.  Government  of  India  has  submitted  the  original  Instrument  of Accession to the Depository State (Turkmenistan) on 28 April, 2016 conveying its intention to formally accede to the Ashgabat Agreement.

The said agreement, inter alia, aims to:

- i. Increase the speed of the Transport of Goods and Passengers with the aim of optimizing  transport  costs  and  take  all  the  necessary  measures  to  provide assistance to  each  other  through  investment  in  transport  infrastructure  projects along the International Transport and Transit Corridor;
- ii. Provide effective facilities in respect with the International Transport and Transit of  Goods  and  Passengers  through  their  territories  in  accordance  with  their national legislation;
- iii. Facilitate access  to  international markets  by  using  land/sea  transportation through the International Transport and Transit Corridor;
- iv. Facilitate granting of visas to the citizens of the other Contracting Party who are engaged  in  International  Transport  and  Transit  of  Goods  and  Passengers  in accordance with its national legislation;
- v. Optimize government taxes, excise and other duties, regardless of their nature or purpose, including charges emanating from the services on Goods in Transit;
- vi. Ensure travel safety and implement international safety standards with respect to the  Transport  and  Transit  of  Goods  and  Passengers,  as well  as  environmental protection in accordance with the international standards; etc.

(c), (d) & (e):   Accession to the Ashgabat Agreement is aimed at utilisation of the existing transport  and  transit  corridor  arrangement  to  facilitate  trade  and  commercial  interactions between  India  and  the  Eurasian  region,  in  general  and  Uzbekistan  and  Turkmenistan  in particular, as these two countries are not member to the International North South Transport Corridor Agreement.

Oman, Qatar, Iran, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan were the founding member countries  to  the  Agreement  which  was  signed  on  25  April,  2011.  Subsequently,  Qatar withdrew from this Agreement in 2013 and Kazakhstan joined the Agreement in February 2015.

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