India-Turkmenistan Joint Working Group on Trade and Economic Cooperation is slated to meet shortly to discuss measures for increasing bilateral trade and identify new areas of cooperation.

The 4th Meeting of India-Turkmenistan Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technological Cooperation which concluded its deliberations here on Tuesday noted the significant increase in bilateral trade. The Indian side statistics revealed that the bilateral trade has recorded 67% growth and had risen to the level of $ 60 million. The Turkmen side conveyed that as per their statistics, trade has increased three times in 2012 as compared to 2011.

The 4th India-Turkmenistan IGC was co-chaired by the Indian Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed and the Deputy Chairman of Cabinet of Ministers and Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov.

The Turkmen side informed of its intention to start flight services from Ashgabat to Goa in order to increase tourism and people to people links. Ahamed also raised the issue of difficulties being faced by Indian nationals in renewal of their work permits. Turkmen side agreed to look into the matter sympathetically.

Meredov called on the President of India Pranab Mukherjee and met the Indian External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid and Indian Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Veerappa Moily.

The next meeting of India-Turkmenistan IGC will be held in Ashgabat in 2014.