GAIL to get foothold in Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan has agreed to open technical talks with public sector gas giant GAIL for enabling the Indian company to start exploration for natural gas in the gas-rich central Asian country.
By TNN |
NEW DELHI: Uzbekistan has agreed to open technical talks with public sector gas giant GAIL for enabling the Indian company to start exploration for natural gas in the gas-rich central Asian country.
This decision materialised after meetings between Uzebekistan Prime Minister Savkit Mirziyayev and the visiting minister of state for commerce Jairam Ramesh at Tashkent.
GAIL has identified four specific blocks for gas exploration. So far Russia, China and South Korea have invested in gas exploration in Uzbekistan.
India has offered to help establish a training institute for gas technology in Tashkent, along the lines of the Jawaharlal Nehru IT Centre in the Uzbek capital inaugurated by the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh last year.
According to an official release, Mr Ramesh also conveyed to the Uzbek Prime Minister India's interest in exploring for gold in the country given the fact that India had become the world's largest importer of gold.
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The Uzbek government has agreed to consider a proposal from MMTC and National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) for gold exploration but wants this proposal to include value-addition investments in Uzebekistan itself, like in gold jewellery. MMTC and NMDC will now formulate a proposal for submission to the Uzbek government in the next 30 days.The Uzbek Prime Minister underscored the special cultural and political relationship that exists between India and Uzbekistan. He said the bilateral economic relationship should be taken forward to a new level and Mr Ramesh's visit will contribute significantly to this, the release said.
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