Kazakhstan-India pipeline project being considered

Astana. April 29. Silkroadnews  - A joint working group is to be created in Kazakhstan to assess the viability of gas pipeline construction between Shymkent (South Kazakhstan border) and Indian border, as Kazakh MFA reports. The MFA distributed this message (via its official website) after a joint session of Kazakh-Indian intergovernmental committee on trade, economic, scientific, technical and cultural cooperation. The session was held in Astana.
“Suggestion of the Indian party to create a joint working group that would assess the viability of gas pipeline construction between Shymkent and Indian border has generated interest in Kazakhstan”, the message states.
India expresses interest in exploration and development of oil and gas in the Northern part of the Caspian Sea. Thus, ONGC Videsh Limited (OVL) partnered with “KazMunaiGas” (KMG) to start extraction in Satpayev oil block.
Bilateral trade between Kazakhstan and India has increased from USD 120 mln in 2005 from USD ½ bln in 2012. It has reached USD 676.9 mln in 2013.
500 joint enterprises are registered in Kazakhstan. 190 of them are financed solely by the Indian party.