Turkmen-Russian Economic forum in Ashgabat

The 6th Turkmen-Russian Economic forum took place in the conference hall in the Archabil Hotel. The delegation of the Russian Federation, including the representatives of a number of state agencies and organisations, as well as the companies, working in the spheres of trade, food industry, construction, electronic information technology, mechanic engineering, oil and gas among others arrived in Ashgabat to participate in the forum. 

The agreements achieved during the top-level talks between President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and President Vladimir Putin held in the framework of the official visit of the RF President to our country served as the important stimuli to organize the forum. 

The Turkmen-Russian Economic forum held in Ashgabat is to specify the most promising areas for developing the efficient collaboration. 

The heads and specialists of the core ministries and departments, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, the representatives of enterprises and companies that produce export-oriented goods represented Turkmenistan at the business forum. 

According to the forum participants, the partnership between Turkmenistan and Russia has a strategic character. That is vividly proved by the regular bilateral top-level meetings and talks, including in the framework of large international events. Moreover, the mutual understanding and trust, established between the heads of the two friendly states, their aspiration for bringing the traditional interstate dialogue up to the new level to satisfy the mutual interests and meet modern requirements stand as the important factors of the Turkmen-Russian partnership. 

Particular attention is paid to the implementation of the Intergovernmental Turkmen-Russian Programme on economic cooperation in 2017-2019 and the projects in the sphere of trade, industry, power energy, engineering, construction, agriculture, fish industry, transport and transport communications, sports, tourism and health care. 

The implementation of the joint projects with a number of Russian companies on the Turkmen market as well as their interest in the further enhancement of business relations stand as a bright evidence of the efficient cooperation in the sphere of economy. Thus, today, more than 180 companies with the participation of the Russian side have been registered in Turkmenistan. 

The Intergovernmental Turkmen-Russian commission on economic cooperation and the High-Level Group on Trade and Investment Support play an important role in the context of the further development of the bilateral trade and economic relations. 

Opening the forum, the Vice President of the RF Chamber of Commerce and Industry noted that white-marble Ashgabat that hospitably and warmly greeted the Russian guests amazed the most sophisticated connoisseurs of beauty and architecture. Moreover, those speaking during the forum underlined the attractiveness of the Avaza national tourism zone. 

According to the CIS Interstate Statistical Committee, Turkmenistan ranks among five CIS states with the highest possible GDP growth of 6-7 percent. The tremendous potential of cooperation on the common market provides the basis for the long-term prospects. 

Those speaking during the forum emphasized that the presentation of the book by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov “Turkmenistan is the Heart of the Great Silk Road” took place in Moscow recently. It was underlined the particular importance of this work not only for the people of Turkmenistan but for the Russian people as well, as it helps to understand the long-standing traditions of our cultural and trade cooperation, based on the mutual understanding and trust. 

The foreign-policy strategy of Turkmenistan prioritizes the enhancement of the bilateral relations with the regions and large industrial and cultural centres in the Russian Federation. It is not occasional that the representatives of eight regions in Russia take part in the Ashgabat forum. The Republic of Tatarstan, St. Petersburg, the Astrakhan, Sverdlovsk, Belgorod regions and other subjects of the Russian Federation demonstrate the high efficiency of the trade and economic, cultural and humanitarian cooperation with Turkmenistan. 

The Agreement on the trade and economic, scientific-technical and cultural cooperation between the Government of Turkmenistan and the Administration of the Krasnodar region of the Russian Federation was signed in the framework of the official visit of the RF President to our country. 

The forum participants underlined that the both states were aimed to continue developing the interregional relations through widening their legislative basis, intensifying the mutual visits of delegations, developing and implementing the joint programmes of partnership and participating in fairs and exhibitions. 

The humanitarian sphere was specified among the key areas of the bilateral cooperation. In particular, the Deputy Administrator of the Oryol Region under the Government of the Russian Federation said that the twin-city relations had been established between the cities of Mary and Oryol. Many Turkmen students study in the Oryol higher educational institutions. The forum participants expressed the interest in the organization of the joint cultural events, art exhibitions, concerts of masters of art, the Days of Culture, scientific and education forums, seminars on a regular basis. It was noted that the workers of culture and art of the Oryol Region were well familiar with the works by Turkmen painters. The forum participants expressed belief that all this would contribute to the further enhancement of the business and friendly relations between our peoples. 

The video clip on the economic achievements of Turkmenistan – the state with dynamically developing economy that is attractive for foreign investments was demonstrated during the forum. In recent years, the country has conducted the tremendous work to diversify the national economy and raise the living standards. 

The economic strategy of Turkmenistan is based on the innovative principles and methods that makes it possible to maintain the significant GDP growth rates, the volumes of industrial production, the foreign trade turnover, the price stability on the domestic market of goods and services, as well as to increase the volume of investments into the social sphere. The effectiveness of the national development model is also proved by the high rates of the socio-economic growth, which was recognized by the authoritative public and financial organizations of the world. 

The opportunities of the RF companies’ participation in the implementation of the large-scale projects, initiated by the President of Turkmenistan, were discussed during the bilateral meetings.