Agreement between Turkmenistan and Afghanistan on trade-economic cooperation

Here is the unofficial translation of the agreement:

 

Agreement between Government of Turkmenistan and Government of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan on trade-economic cooperation

The Government of Turkmenistan and the Government of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, hereinafter referred to as Parties, aiming at strengthening of friendly relations and development of cooperation between two countries, desiring the expansion of trade-economic relations on the basis of principles of mutual equality, mutual advantage and taking into consideration the mutual interests, stressing the significance of positive experience of bilateral economic partnership  and availability of potential for its development, noting the necessity of creation of new mechanisms of interaction in trade-economic sphere on intergovernmental level, recognizing expediency of further development of legal basis between two states, guided on ensuring of high level of economic relations; have agreed as follows.

Article 1

The parties in the framework of the acting legislation and on the ground of norms of international law will take all necessary measures for strengthening of trade-economic cooperation between Turkmenistan and Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

Article 2

The Parties will ensure all favorable conditions for development of mutually advantageous bilateral trade-economic relations. With this purpose the Parties will improve their economic and trade relations and will grant each other the most-favoured-nation treatment.

Article 3

The Parties consider as expedient action the working out of bilateral programs of economic cooperation in such priority  spheres as power engineering, water economy, trade, transport and other directions of partnership.

The practical realization of these programs will be carried out on the basis of working out of joint mutually beneficial economic projects.

Article 4

With the purpose of development and inspiration of trade-economic interaction between two countries, the Parties  have agreed to establish the Joint intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation (hereinafter referred to as Joint commission). The Joint commission will take all necessary measures for effective implementation of the present Agreement, will find out and recommend new directions of economic cooperation between two countries.

In the case of necessity, the Joint Commission can establish the branch committees, which will consist of councilors and specialists, who will be invited for the meetings of the commission. The branch committees would present activity report to Joint commission. The meetings of Joint commission would be held on proposal of one of the Parties by turns in Turkmenistan and Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

Article  5

The Parties will encourage the participation of their entrepreneurs and companies in arrangement of trade on the territory of each other countries and the increase of bilateral visits of delegations and trade representatives. As far as possible the Parties will render assistance to the organization of national exhibitions and presentations on the territory of each other.

In accordance with domestic legislations the Parties are agreed on exempt from taxes, dues  and fees for all kinds of goods and equipment, which are brought determined period of time for use in arrangement of exhibitions, visits and seminars, under the stipulation that such goods and equipment are not subject to sale.  

Article 6

The trade-economic cooperation between the Parties, physical persons and legal entities of both countries will be carried out on the ground of the present Agreement and in accordance with the legislation of Party-states.

Article 7

The calculations on trade-economic agreements and contracts, signed between the Parties, their physical persons and legal entities will be realized in accordance with acting legislations of the Party-states and according to bilateral intergovernmental agreements.

Article 8

The Turkmen Party will render comprehensive assistance to strengthening of cooperation with Afghan Party in technical sphere, in particular – mining operations, oil and gas output, construction of railways and highways, electric energy supply and development of agriculture. 

Article 9

The Parties will exchange the information concerning the corresponding laws and economic projects and programs for encouragement of relations between companies and organizations of the Party-states.  

Article 10

Any disputes between the Parties concerning the application and interpretation of the regulations of the Present Agreement will be solved by means of consultations and negotiations.

Article 11

On mutual consent of the Parties the present Agreement can be amended. The amendments are fixed in separate protocols, which would the essential part and will come  into force in accordance with procedures, stipulated in the Article 12 of the present Agreement.

Article 12

The present Agreement will come into force as soon as the Parties have exchanged through diplomatic channels the notifications about the implementation of domestic procedures, which are necessary for coming into force of the Present Agreement.

The present Agreement have been concluded for the period of five years and will be automatically renewed for the next five year, unless either of the Parties gives a written notice to the other Party, at least six months before the expiration of this Agreement, of its intention to denounce.

The present Agreement has been done in Ashgabat city on July 5, 2007, corresponding to 14 Saratan 1386 of sun hijra in two original copies, both in Turkmen and Dari languages, all texts are being equally authentic.

For government of Turkmenistan, Hodjamyrat Geldymyradov, Minister of economy and finances

For government of Islamic Republic Of Afghanistan, Rangin Dadfar Spanta, Minister of foreign affaires

Ashgabat, 5 July 2007