Ashgabat:

President Ram Nath Kovind said on Saturday that the Indian-built Chabahar port in Iran could be used to improve trade relations between India and Central Asian countries.

President Kovind held delegation-level talks with his Turkmen counterpart Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov at the Oguzhar Palace in Ashgabat on Saturday.

He said the Indian-built Chabahar port in Iran could be used to improve trade between India and Central Asia.

The two heads of state signed four memorandums of understanding.

They highlighted the importance of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and the Ashgabat Agreement on the International Transport and Transit Corridor, he added.

“I pointed out that the Indian-built Chabahar port in Iran could be used to improve trade between India and Central Asia,” the president said.

The first Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between the Financial Supervisory Service of the Ministry of Finance and Economy of Turkmenistan and the Financial Intelligence Unit of India.

While the second Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Government of Turkmenistan and the Government of the Republic of India on cooperation in the field of disaster management; the cooperation program between the Government of Turkmenistan and the Government of the Republic of India in the fields of culture and arts for the period 2022-2025.

Meanwhile, the third Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between the Ministry of Sports and Youth Policy, Turkmenistan and the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Government of the Republic of India on cooperation in of youth.

“I am confident that the Memorandum of Understanding signed today between the Financial Intelligence Unit of India and the Financial Supervisory Service of Turkmenistan will enhance the framework for economic cooperation between the two countries,” President Kovind said.

He further stated that connectivity is essential for any trade deal.

The President further said that the two leaders have also identified new areas of cooperation such as disaster management on which they signed a Memorandum of Understanding today.

“I have conveyed India’s readiness to partner with Turkmenistan in its digitalization drive. Space can be another area of ​​mutually beneficial cooperation,” he said.

He further pointed out that the countries share age-old civilizational and cultural ties.

“During the talks, I stressed the importance of organizing regular cultural events in each other’s territory. I am sure that the cooperation program in the field of culture and arts for the period 2022- 25, signed today, will give direction to our cultural cooperation,” he said. Underline.

Earlier on Friday afternoon, President Ram Nath Kovind arrived at Ashgabat International Airport in Turkmenistan on Friday afternoon for a three-day official visit.

President Kovind received the guard of honor in Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan shortly after his arrival.

Following this visit, which will end on April 3, President Kovind will travel to the Netherlands from April 4 to 7.

(Except for the title, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)