DOCSLIB.ORG

Uzbekistan – Turkmenistan – Iran

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Uzbekistan – Turkmenistan – Iran 31.03.2015–06.04.2015• No: 14 KAZAKHSTAN – UZBEKISTAN – TURKMENISTAN – IRAN – OMAN INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORT AND TRANSIT CORRIDOR A signing ceremony of an International After the short period of time, the delega- proceeded the implementation of the Agreement on Establishing a new inter- tions of Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran project. national transport and transit corridor Uz- and Oman met on 10th November, 2010 The first session of Coordination Council bekistan – Turkmenistan – Iran – Oman in Tehran (Iran) and discussed the prob- Meeting of the participants of “Ashgabat – Qatar was held in Ashgabat on 25th of lems of co-investing the project, de- Agreement” was held in Tehran on 15th April, 2011. This agreement is known as creasing the transportation and transit of February, 2015. At the session repre- “Ashgabat Agreement”. costs, cooperating in the trade and sentatives of “Ashgabat Agreement” The legal document will allow the mem- transit developments between the coun- member countries approved accession ber-countries to create the shortest trade tries. of Kazakhstan to the Agreement on an route between Central Asian countries At this meeting the participants created International transport and transit corri- and Persian Gulf’s and Oman’s sea the working group of Agreement on pre- dor Uzbekistan – Turkmenistan – Iran – ports. According to the project, after paring transit, custom, transport and in- Oman. Kazakhstan will join the agree- building the links connecting railways of vestment. At this meeting the ministers ment as a new member after passing all Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan with of member countries decided to meet to legal processes. southern ports of Iran, participants of the sign the Agreement of an International Since the project was put into operation, agreement will be able to establish an transport and transit corridor in Ashgabat the member countries could see some optimal transport route to the Persian in March, 2011 as well. Thus the partici- positive results. The volume of railway and Oman gulfs’ ports in short-term per- pants signed “Ashgabat Agreement” on transportation between Ashgabat Agree- spective. 25th of April, 2011 in Ashgabat. ment members in 2014 increased by The first part of this transport and transit After signing the Agreement, the project 10% or 2,3 million tonnes of goods com- corridor will pass through the railway has been ratified in the member coun- paring to 2013 and reached 25 million lines in Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and tries. Iranian government approved the tonnes of cargos. At the same time, Iran. The second part will pass through “Ashgabat Agreement” “with the view to among the total amount of transported shipping routes, which connect Bender- expanding trade with countries in the re- cargo about 41% of good were from Ka- Abbas port of Iran and Chahbahar port gion” on 12th of May, 2011; Turkmeni- zakhstan. It is expected that the volume of the Sultanate of Oman. According to stan ratified the project in May, 2011; Uz- of transported goods between Kazakh- the experts, implementation of this inter- bekistan approved the project on 13th of stan and Ashgabat Agreement member national project will both give a powerful June 2011. countries can reach up to 40 million impetus to the economic development Foreign ministers of Uzbekistan, Turk- tonnes per year by 2020. and increase the volume of transited menistan, Iran and Oman signed the The Ashgabat Agreement has an inter- goods. Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) national and regional significance as it is The idea to establish a new international for the Establishment of the transport expecting to promote and enhance inter- transport and transit corridor Uzbekistan corridor Uzbekistan – Turkmenistan – national trade for the members of Agree- – Turkmenistan – Iran – Oman – Qatar Iran – Oman – Qatar on 6th of August, ment. The transit corridor running and other Arab states of the Persian Gulf 2011, in Muscat, Oman. However, in through Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Ka- was initiated by President of Uzbekistan 2013 Qatar withdrew the project and the zakhstan and Iran, which would connect Islam Karimov at the official meeting held MoU automatically transformed into Central Asia with Persian Gulf and Sea in Ashgabat on 19th of October, 2010. quadruple agreement. Due to Qatar’s of Oman, is one of the potential prospect President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly withdrawal, it became impossible to put for trade, economics, investment and Berdimuhamedov approved this idea the project into force in 2013 as it was transit cooperation as well as for regional and charged Foreign Affairs and planned. Therefore, Uzbekistan, Turk- development, welfare and stability. The Transport Ministers of government to do menistan, Iran and Oman had to recon- establishment of this corridor is expected researches on the political and technical sider the Agreement making some cor- to connect Eastern, Western, Central aspects of the project. rections and only after that the parties and Southern Asia together. Politics, Foreign Affairs and Security of the OSCE chairperson-in-office ñ Kyrgyzstan applied to join the Asian and head of the UN Regional Centre Infrastructure Investment Bank ñ In accordance with the results of the for Preventive Diplomacy for Central (AIIB). The AIIB, an international fi- last indirect election of the Majlisi Asia. nancial institution with an initial capital Milli members, which took place on ñ The commander of Russia’s 201st of around $50 billion aiming to pro- March 27, the President Tajikistan military base in Tajikistan, Major- vide support to infrastructure projects Emomali Rahmon appointed six General Yevgeny Tubol stated that in Asia, would be established by the members of the Upper House of Par- the number of Russian troops de- end of this year. liament. ployed the 201st base would be in- ñ In the framework of the Kazakh-Hun- ñ Australia’s expanded sanctions creased 1.5-fold during the next five garian Business Forum, which was against Russia, first announced on years - from 5900 up to 9000. held in Astana, Hungarian Minister of September 1, 2014, came into effect ñ Residents in the self-proclaimed Lu- Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade on April, 2015. The sanctions include gansk People's Republic handed Péter Szijjártó announced that Ka- restrictions on export and import of over 50,000 units of weapons to local zakhstan and Hungary would create arms and related materiel, export to authorities and an equal number of a joint Financial Fund with $40 million Russia of certain items for use in pe- ammo over the past week. in capital. troleum exploration and production. ñ The World Bank’s Board of Executive Economy, Finance and Energy ñ The newly established Constitutional Directors has approved financing the Commission of Ukraine was gathered ñ Kazakhstan and China signed 33 co- Third Village Investment Project in for its first session. The Commission operation deals worth $23.6 billion the Republic of Kyrgyzstan in the would work out the amendments to during Kazakhstan Prime Minister amount of $12 million and the Skills the country's Constitution taking into Karim Massimov's visit to China. The and Jobs Project in Kazakhstan in the account the challenges and needs agreements covered cooperation in amount of $100 million loan. the society was facing. steel, nonferrous metals, sheet glass, Society and Culture ñ Russia started its presidency in the oil refining, hydropower and automo- The representatives of the diaspora BRICS group. According the Finance bile production. ñ organizations of Azerbaijan and Tur- Minister, Anton Siluanov, the main ñ According to the US Energy Infor- key in Europe held a protest in Brus- tasks of Russia’s presidency would mation Administration, OPEC mem- sels, Belgium, timed to coincide with be implementation of large projects, bers, excluding Iran, earned about March 31 - Day of Genocide of Azer- in particular, the establishment and $730 billion in net oil export revenues baijanis. the commencement of operations of in 2014, which represents an 11% de- the New Development Bank. cline from the $824 billion earned in ñ Iran's Deputy Sports Minister Abdolhamid Ahmadi has announced ñ After tough negotiations in Lausanne 2013. This was the lowest earnings a plan to soften the ban on women members of the P5+1 Group and Iran for the group since 2010. visiting men's sports events. The ban has reached consensus on the con- ñ The fifth installment of Iran’s frozen would be lifted only for indoor sporting text of the framework agreement, assets worth $490 million has been events and still some matches and which ruled that Iran would reduce its settled. This makes a total sum of stadiums would remain off-limits for uranium enrichment capacity in ex- $2.45 billion released during the ne- women. change for phased sanctions relief. gotiations between Iran and the P5+1 ñ The ongoing floods in central China ñ Azerbaijan and Pakistan have signed Group. have already affected about 240,000 a protocol on bilateral military cooper- ñ Russia has submitted its new climate people, also damaging crops and ation. The meeting of the Azerbaijani- action plan to the UN Framework halting traffic. More than 12,000 peo- Pakistani Working Group took place Convention on Climate Change. Rus- ple have been evacuated from the at the training center of the Azerbai- sia would reduce greenhouse gas China’s Hunan Province. jani armed forces. emissions by 25-30% by 2030 com- ñ The Large Hadron Collider has re- ñ The Working Group on Afghanistan pared to the level of 25 years ago. started, with protons circling the ma- under the Collective Security Treaty ñ Georgia increased import of oil prod- chine's 27km tunnel for the first time Organization (CSTO) Council of the ucts from Azerbaijan by 20%. Geor- since 2013. Foreign Ministers held a meeting in gia imported 35320 metric tons of oil Dushanbe.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The INSTC, Transregional Connectivity and Geopolitics
    The INSTC, transregional connectivity and geopolitics The multi-modal International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) has the potential to boost Eurasian trade connectivity by linking Russia to the warm waters of the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean. Only 160 km of track remains to be laid in Iran’s northwest for Mumbai to be connected to the Baltic Sea. However, geopolitical barriers and the fragile political commitment of member states risk putting the network into a state of arrested development and have raised questions about the project’s economic viability. Meanwhile, Russia is strengthening its access to diversified regional transit corridors in West Asia. INSTC: a missing link for Eurasian connectivity Introduced as a project in the early 2000s by India, Iran and Russia, the INSTC aims to link the Indian Ocean to the Baltic Sea through the Persian Gulf and the Caspian Sea via a network of rail, roads and shipping routes. The corridor began to gather interest in the mid-2000s, when a dozen other countries joined up. However, it gradually lost momentum and became focused on integrating the three founding members with countries in Central Asia. Accordingly, the Ashgabat Agreement, which was signed in 2011 and aims to establish a separate transport corridor between Central Asia and the Persian Gulf, paved the way for the INSTC’s western corridor to connect with such countries as Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. When fully operational, the INSTC could be the fastest transit route between Mumbai and St Petersburg: in theory, it will reduce the distance on the current maritime route through the Suez Canal from 16,000 km to 7,200 km and bring down the travel time between South Asia and Northern Europe from 60 days to 30, significantly driving down transport costs.
    [Show full text]
  • Central Asia Oil and Gas Industry - the External Powers’ Energy Interests in Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan
    A Service of Leibniz-Informationszentrum econstor Wirtschaft Leibniz Information Centre Make Your Publications Visible. zbw for Economics Raimondi, Pier Paolo Working Paper Central Asia Oil and Gas Industry - The External Powers’ Energy Interests in Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan Working Paper, No. 006.2019 Provided in Cooperation with: Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM) Suggested Citation: Raimondi, Pier Paolo (2019) : Central Asia Oil and Gas Industry - The External Powers’ Energy Interests in Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, Working Paper, No. 006.2019, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM), Milano This Version is available at: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/211165 Standard-Nutzungsbedingungen: Terms of use: Die Dokumente auf EconStor dürfen zu eigenen wissenschaftlichen Documents in EconStor may be saved and copied for your Zwecken und zum Privatgebrauch gespeichert und kopiert werden. personal and scholarly purposes. Sie dürfen die Dokumente nicht für öffentliche oder kommerzielle You are not to copy documents for public or commercial Zwecke vervielfältigen, öffentlich ausstellen, öffentlich zugänglich purposes, to exhibit the documents publicly, to make them machen, vertreiben oder anderweitig nutzen. publicly available on the internet, or to distribute or otherwise use the documents in public. Sofern die Verfasser die Dokumente unter Open-Content-Lizenzen (insbesondere CC-Lizenzen) zur Verfügung gestellt haben sollten, If the documents have been made available under an Open gelten abweichend von diesen Nutzungsbedingungen
    [Show full text]
  • Inside-Out-Compilation-2018-12-21
    Table of Contents iii Preface Johannes F. Linn, Distinguished Resident Fellow, Emerging Markets Forum, Washington, USA Leo Zucker, Project & Research Associate, Emerging Markets Forum, Washington, USA 1 The Belt and Road Initiative: The Case of Kazakhstan Aktoty Aitzhanova, Chairperson, NAC Analytica; Deputy Chairperson, Board of Trustees, Nazarbayev Uni- versity, Astana, Kazakhstan 1 1. Overview 2 2. Bilateral Trade in the Post-Soviet Period 4 3. Kazakhstan’s Decisive Policy Initiative: Large-scale Infrastructure Program Nurly Zhol 6 4. Collaboration in the Field of Production Capacities: A BRI Priority 7 5. Financial Integration 8 6. People-to-People Exchanges and Perceptions of China by Kazakhstanis 9 7. Perceptions of China in Kazakhstan: Results of a Population Survey 11 8. Conclusion 12 References 14 Annex: “51 Projects” 17 The Kyrgyz Republic and the Belt and Road Initiative Roman Mogilevskii, Senior Research Fellow, Institute of Public Policy and Administration, University of Cen- tral Asia, Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic 17 1. Introduction 17 2. Key BRI-related Ongoing Activities in the Kyrgyz Republic 21 3. Effects of BRI Projects 26 4. Potential Future BRI Activities and Impact 29 5. Recommendations 30 6. Topics for Future Research 31 References 33 The Belt and Road Initiative in the South Caucasus Region Giorgi Khishtovani, Research Director, PMC Research Center, Tbilisi, Georgia Mariam Zabakhidze, Affiliated Researcher, PMC Research Center, Tbilisi, Georgia Irakli Gabriadze, Affiliated Researcher, PMC Research Center, Tbilisi, Georgia Rezo Beradze, Affiliated Researcher, PMC Research Center, Tbilisi, Georgia 33 1. Executive Summary 34 2. South Caucasus Region: Overview i ii 37 3. The BRI in the South Caucasus Region: Current Involvement 46 4.
    [Show full text]
  • Paper India-Iran Chabahar Agreement
    PAPER INDIA-IRAN CHABAHAR AGREEMENT THE GEOPOLITICS OF BALUCHISTAN REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL IMPLICATIONS Dr. Mohammad Hassan Hossein bor ARABIAN GULF CENTRE FOR IRANIAN STUDIES WWW.ARABIANGCIS.ORG INDIA-IRAN CHABAHAR AGREEMENT THE GEOPOLITICS OF BALUCHISTAN INTRODUCTION The Chabahar Agreement signed between the Indian Prime Minister Modi and Iranian President Rouhani in May of this year will enable India to develop the Chabahar Port in Iranian Baluchistan as a major economic and strategic corridor linking India to Afghanistan and Central Asian markets. The Agreement is seen as India’s strategic response to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) under which China will invest about 47$ billion to link Western China via overland roads, pipelines, and railways to Gwadar Port in Eastern Baluchistan. The Indo-Chinese rivalry underscores the geopolitical significance of Baluchistan as a focal point in the New Great Game played by the US, China, and India in Asia. This paper addresses the local, regional, and international implications of the two emerging strategic seaports and their impact on the Arabian Gulf and the Baluch movement in Iran. Chabahar is India’s response to China’s move in Gwadar. Both ports are part of Baluchistan, on the Arabian Sea coast within 70 kilometers of each other. Therefore, an understanding of Chabahar will be difficult without reference to Gwadar and vice versa. This paper is divided into three parts. The first covers the historical background and geopolitical significance of Baluchistan and its two strategic seaports. The second deals with the regional implications reflecting the role of regional actors namely Saudi Arabia, Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.
    [Show full text]
  • INDIA and CENTRAL ASIA – FINDING a WAY to ONE-ANOTHER Dr
    CAPS In Focus 26 October 2016 www.capsindia.org 116/16 INDIA AND CENTRAL ASIA – FINDING A WAY TO ONE-ANOTHER Dr. Poonam Mann Research Associate, CAPS The absence of physical access has always been a need for deepening infrastructure links. Hence major stumbling block in India-Central Asia the emphasis was on speeding up the work on relations. Complicated India-Pakistan relations International North South Transport Corridor have further dissuaded India’s reach into the (INSTC), Iran-Turkmenistan-Kazakhstan (ITK) region. Consequently, despite having close rail link, India’s interests in joining the Ashgabat historical, civilizational and cultural linkages, the Agreement, and India’s investment in Chabahar relationship between the two has not lived up to Port. its promise. In an attempt to redeem the The INSTC - considered as India’s gateway situation, India has sought to take new routes. to expand trade and investment links with One of these is to enhance its engagement with Central Asian republics and Eurasia- is a multi- regional and multilateral initiatives. The second modal transportation route that links Indian route is to have close cooperation with friendly Ocean and Persian Gulf to the Caspian Sea via countries like Russia, Iran and Afghanistan, Iran and onwards to northern Europe via St. around the region. Petersburg in Russia. It envisages movement of In fact, last couple of years have seen some goods from Mumbai (India) to Bandar Abbas major strategic breakthroughs in this direction. (Iran) by sea, from Bandar Abbas to Bandar-e For instance, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Anzali (an Iranian port on the Caspian Sea) by Modi’s visit to all the five Central Asian republics road and then from Bandar-e- Anzali to (CARs) in July 2015 and to Iran in May 2016 Astrakhan (a Caspian Port in the Russian brought the focus on connectivity and trade.
    [Show full text]
  • List of Partnerships, Voluntary Commitments and Initiatives To
    Partnerships, voluntary commitments and initiatives to support sustainable transport1 Title Objective Partners Afghanistan-Turkmenistan Expand transport options between Afghanistan and Turkmenistan Railway Afghanistan and Turkmenistan Lapis-Lazuli Corridor Foster transit and trade cooperation among Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, and Turkey Georgia and Turkey by reducing barriers facing transit trade. Also, advance customs procedure integration in the region south-east and Central Asia. Regional transport system Create an integrated and efficient transport Afghanistan, India and Iran system in the region Regional railway system Link the railway systems of the five member Afghanistan, China, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, and countries. Tajikistan Eurasian Economic Union – Advance development through joint industrial Belarus, China Silk Road Economic Belt and infrastructure projects Cooperation One Belt – One Road Revive ancient Silk Road with modern China, Pakistan, Turkey, and Uzbekistan (OBOR) technology to facilitate regional transport, 1 This compilation lists initiatives, commitments and partnerships announced in the plenary and thematic meetings of the Conference, as well as partnerships registered prior to the Conference. 1 Title Objective Partners encompassing all modes EU-China Connectivity Connect Europe, Central Asia and China China, Europe, Central Asia Platform through a digital and physical network (including by linking OBOR and the “Investment Plan for Europe”) Making Tbilisi a Green City Promote an urban mobility plan, emphasizing Georgia, Asian Development Bank energy saving technology, the private sector, and infrastructure for electro-mobility Connecting mining Link the mining transport railways of Guinea Guinea, Mali, China transport railways and the Republic of Mali. Transcontinental Link Uzen in Kazakhstan with Bereket - Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran. infrastructure railroad Etrek in Turkmenistan and Gorgan in Iran.
    [Show full text]
  • The Efficient Use of International Railway Transport Corridors in Kazakhstan
    The efficient use of international railway transport corridors in Kazakhstan Vadim Kushkunov November 2017 Bachelor Thesis Logistics Engineering Programme Description Author(s) Type of publication Date Kushkunov, Vadim Bachelor’s thesis November 2017 Number of pages Language of publication: 57 English Permission for web publication: x Title of publication The efficient use of international railway transport corridors in Kazakhstan Possible subtitle Degree programme Logistics Engineering Supervisor(s) Franssila, Tommi Assigned by Description The Republic of Kazakhstan has huge benefits related to the presence of international transport corridors lying on its territory. Being the central state of Eurasian continent, it should be actively integrated into the global transport market and become one of the most important transit hub between East and West regions. However, due to the substandard quality of railway infrastructure and logistics, Kazakhstan is not able to efficiently use its transport potential. Therefore, the main objectives were to identify what kind of barriers prevent the efficient use of international transport corridors and what are the possible solutions. To answer these research questions, firslty the analysis of the effectiveness of transport corridors as a component of external transport market was made. Secondly, the current problems existing in transportation field were identified and divided into physical and non- physical barriers. Moreover, the two most crucial physical barriers such as the outdated fleet of rolling stock and the distinction of the railways gauge width were researched. The numerical data were collected from the financial statements and annual reports of transport companies. The results showed, that the use of the international transport corridors for the national economy is highly questionable.
    [Show full text]
  • Uzbekistan Connectivity with South and East Asia Countries
    CAREC Corridors' Implementation Progress, Planned Activities and Support Needs Republic of Uzbekistan Connectivity with South and East Asia Countries Ministry of Foreign Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan Azizbek Salahiddinov Head, Transit Potential, Logistics and Transport Corridors Development Department Progress in Projects Implementation Formation of Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan-Iran-Oman Transport Corridor (the Ashgabat Agreement), which is the most economically efficient corridor for the countries in the region due to the short distance to the seaports, availability of tariff preferences, and minimum goods delivery times (7-10 days), is nearing its completion. To this end, our Turkmenistan friends have opened new rail and road bridges Turkmenabat-Farab across Amu Darya river, which constitute an important section of the Corridor. Progress in Projects Implementation Progress in Projects Implementation Along with the operating Trans-Caucasian Corridor (TRACECA) Tashkent –Turkmenbashi – Baku – Poti – Burgas/Constanta with a train ferry connection to the South European countries (which was practically not used in recent years), new perspective opportunities are provided by opening of the railway operation Baku – Tbilisi – Akhalkalaki – Kars. Railroad opening ceremony was held in Baku in October 2017. • For reference: Railway capacity is up to 3 million passengers and 17 million tons of cargo annually. Progress in Projects Implementation TBILISI AKHALKALAKI KARS BAKU Progress in Projects Implementation Along with multiple conventional corridors, for road transport a corridor following the route Andijan – Osh – Irkeshtam – Kashi (Kashgar) has very good prospects. Road haulage along this route began since February 25 this year, with the direct involvement of the Ministry of Foreign Trade. • For reference: Last year, between October 30 and November 3, an international pilot caravan trip was held with participation of 9 vehicles from 3 countries.
    [Show full text]
  • DRAFT CONCEPT NOTE Best Practices in Corridor Development
    DRAFT CONCEPT NOTE Best practices in corridor development and management for the benefit of LLDCs and transit countries Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia 29-30 October 2019 Context The Vienna Programme of Action for the Landlocked Developing Countries (VPoA) adopted by the international community in 2014 offers a holistic approach to addressing the special needs and challenges of Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) in its priority areas including; Fundamental Transit Policy Issues; Infrastructure Development and Maintenance; International Trade and Trade Facilitation; Regional Integration and Cooperation, Structural Economic Transformation, and Means of Implementation. Effective, efficient and sustainable transport systems are becoming increasingly important for increasing connectivity, allowing access to markets and enabling countries to benefit from global trade. Transport is a key enabler of sustainable development. Transport is not a standalone Sustainable Development Goal (SDG), but plays a vital role in achieving all SDGs, and there are many Goals with direct connections to transport, including through specific transport-related targets. The fact that transport related targets or indicators are included in eight out of the seventeen proposed SDGs (namely Goals 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13) illustrates the cross-cutting role that transport has in sustainable development. Transit transport is a key issue in particular for the LLDCs. Due to the lack of direct access to the sea, LLDCs are marginalized from major transportation and services networks and depend entirely on transit routes across their neighbouring country territories for transportation of their exports and their imports. Amongst the key objectives of the Vienna Programme of Action is to ensure efficient access to and from the sea for the LLDCs, reduce the high trade and transport costs, develop adequate transit transport infrastructure networks, simplify and harmonize rules and regulations and promote increased participation of LLDCs in global trade.
    [Show full text]
  • Prace OSW / CES Studies the Resource Wealth Burden – Oil and Gas Sectors in the Former USSR
    OÂ R O D E K ST U D I Ó W WS C H O D N I C H Centre for Eastern Studies Prace OSW / CES Studies TheP resource R Awealth C burden E Ð oil and gas sectors OSin the formerW USSR C ES S T U D I E S n u m e r 12 W a r s a w December 2003 © Copyright by Centre for Eastern Studies Editor Anna ¸abuszewska Graphic design Dorota Nowacka Translation Izabela Zygmunt, Ilona Duchnowicz Publisher Centre for Eastern Studies Koszykowa 6a Warsaw, Poland phone + 48 /22/ 525 80 00 fax: +48 /22/ 629 87 99 The “CES Studies” series contains analytical materials prepared at the Centre for Eastern Studies The Centre’s analytical materials can be found on the Internet at www. osw.waw.pl More information about the Centre for Eastern Studies is available at the same web address ISSN 1642-4484 C o n t e n t s Introduction / 5 Agata ¸o s k o t Key points / 7 Agata ¸o s k o t Chapter 1. Export potential of the post-Soviet region / 8 Agata ¸o s k o t Chapter 2. The Russian energy policy / 18 Ewa Pa s z y c Chapter 3. The oil and gas in the "transit countries" of the former USSR / 31 Arkadiusz Sarna Chapter 4. Foreign investments in the oil and gas sectors of CIS energy producers / 41 Iwona WiÊniewska Chapter 5. Oil and gas wealth Ð the impact on development prospects of CIS countries / 50 Wojciech Pa c z y Ä s k i Attachment / 5 9 Tables and maps / 6 0 I n t r o d u c t i o n The former USSR area plays a great role in the in- ternational oil and gas market.
    [Show full text]
  • India's Expanding Interests in Central Asia Policies, Issues and Challenges
    India's Expanding Interests in Central Asia Policies, Issues and Challenges Ramakrushna Pradhan Abstract India and Central Asia constitutes strategic neighbours and natural allies. Both the regions are geographically proximate, share common history and cultural affinity. Notwithstanding the great historical linkages, New Delhi's presence in and policies towards Central Asian countries over the past decades have demonstrated the challenges of competing with China on energy issues, with Russia on matters of regional security, with Pakistan on issues of Islam and secularism and with the U.S. on matters of regional influence. India so far has managed to secure only a tenuous foothold in Central Asia with a tag of late comer. When considered alongside other major players, India has yet to translate the aspirations of its recent connect Central Asia policy into reality with strategic and sustainable policy action. Hence, until recently India was considered as a minor player with minimal presence in the region lacking clarity, vision and Continuity in its policy towards the region. It neither had the political will power nor the economic strength to pursue its agenda in Central Asia unlike China and its policy initiatives are lagging far behind those of China, Russia and the US. Nevertheless, the recent emphasis accorded to Central Asian Republics by Indian Prime Minister Mr. Modi by terming their relationship as that of a 'Partnership for Prosperity' New Delhi perhaps has signaled its arrival in the heartland region. However, this is just a drop of the entire ocean. With this premise an attempt has been made in this article to know the strategic interests of India in Central Asia in terms of geo-economics and geopolitics and to investigate what policies India follow in this region to secure and strive its interests and what more needs to be done.
    [Show full text]
  • Iasbaba Daily Prelims Quiz – Day 11
    IASbaba Daily Prelims Quiz – Day 11 Q.1) Recently Indian foreign minister visited Iran and discussed the issues of mutual interest. Consider the following statements with respect to Ashgabat Agreement. 1. Ashgabat agreement is aimed at creating an international transport and transit corridor facilitating transportation of goods between Central Asia and the Persian Gulf. 2. The Ashgabat Agreement has Oman, Iran, Uzbekistan and India as founding members. 3. Ashgabat agreement will also synchronize with the International North–South Transport Corridor for moving freight between India, Russia, Iran, Europe and Central Asia. Select the correct option a) 1 only b) 1 and 3 only c) 2 only d) 1, 2 and 3 Q.1) Solution (b) Ashgabat agreement is aimed at creating an international transport and transit corridor facilitating transportation of goods between Central Asia and the Persian Gulf. The Ashgabat Agreement has Oman, Iran, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan as founding members. Kazakhstan has also joined this arrangement subsequently. Accession to the Agreement would enable India to utilise this existing transport and transit corridor to facilitate trade and commercial interaction with the Eurasian region. Further, this would synchronise with our efforts to implement the International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC) for enhanced connectivity. India is not the founding member. Click here to read the news. Click here to read the news. INSTC Q.2) Consider the following statements with respect to Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) 1. The scheme aims at distribution of LED bulbs for BPL families free of cost. 2. The scheme is implemented by Ministry of Power. Select the incorrect option.
    [Show full text]