Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan on Feb. 15 formally launched a "public discussion" over constitutional changes to extend the president's term and drop the age limit for candidates.

State media in the energy-rich ex-Soviet state on Feb. 15 backed moves to boost presidential terms from five to seven years and scrap the 70-year age limit for candidates.

Turkmenistan on Dec. 13 started work on its part of a natural gas pipeline to Afghanistan, Pakistan and India (TAPI), a $10 billion project designed to reduce its dependence on gas sales to Russia and China.

Turkey has listed its conditions for a gas trade deal with Israel, said a high-level official, while commenting on fresh remarks by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 

Energy-rich Turkmenistan's leader has ordered the start of construction on a pipeline carrying gas from the former Soviet state to India, Pakistan and Afghanistan, the government said Nov. 7.

Trading house Sumitomo Corp said on Oct. 26 it had won a $300 million order for a 400-megawatt gas-fired power plant in Turkmenistan, part of a package of deals announced on a visit to the Central Asian nation by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. 

Japan and Turkmenistan on Oct. 23 signed deals worth over $18 billion on a package of projects in the energy-rich central Asian nation, which has become an important supplier of natural gas to China.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov pointed to the Trans-Caspian gas pipeline as a possible step towards the achievement of greater energy diversification.

Borisov stated this during his meeting with the President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow in Ashgabat on Tuesday, the government's press service informs.

Bulgaria's Prime Minister Boyko Borisov will meet with Turkmenistan's President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov in Ashgabat on Tuesday.

The two are to discuss the diversification of bilateral commercial and economic partnership, increasing the trade volume, creating transport-transit corridors, and cooperation in tourism.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov will be on a two-day official visit to Turkmenistan on Monday and Tuesday.

He will be accompanied by a delegation, which will include Regional Minister Lilyana Pavlova and the Bulgarian ambassador to Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan Maya Hristova.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a visit to Turkmenistan on July 11 backed stronger energy ties with the gas-rich ex-Soviet state.