India, Tajikistan to accelerate cooperation in sustainable water development

Union minister  for water resources Nitin Gadkari, currently on a two-day official visit to the central Asian republic, held wide-ranging talks with Tajikistan's foreign minister Sirodjidin Muhridin in Dushanbe yesterday.

The two leaders underlined the need to raise the level of the ongoing bilateral cooperation in various fields and agreed to enhance mutual cooperation in the area of sustainable water development.

Gadkari also conveyed to the Tajikistan leader, India's commitment towards expanding economic cooperation between the two countries, and said that potential for trade in commodities like sugar and milk powder may be explored.

Gadkari updated him on the progress of the Chabahar Port, which India  is helping to develop in Iran and said that New Delhi would be willing to share with Tajikistan, Indian  expertise in building quality infrastructure.

Foreign minister Muhridin said India was one of Tajikistan’s reliable political and strategic partners and would also like to expand its economic ties with New Delhi.

Gadkari is in Dushanbe to represent India at the high level global conference on “International Decade for Action: Water for Sustainable Development”.