Turkmenistan, Turkey discuss further cooperation

/By AzerNews/

By Aynur Karimova

The bilateral cooperation in the political, economic-trade, cultural, and humanitarian fields, particularly in developing a partnership in the energy, transport, and investment sectors, as well as the implementation of joint infrastructure projects were high on the agenda of talks held between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Turkmen counterpart Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov on August 7.

Berdymukhamedov was on a visit to Turkey on August 6-7.

During the bilateral meeting, the presidents of the two countries stated that the successful implementation of joint projects opens up new opportunities for Turkish business circles in the promising Turkmen market, an important factor of which is the favorable investment climate in the Central Asian country.

Erdogan and Berdymukhamedov also paid special attention to the development of cooperation in tourism. It was noted that the Turkish experience in the construction of resort infrastructure is of great interest for Turkmenistan, particularly in the context of projects at the Avaza national tourist zone.

As part of the visit to Turkey, Berdymukhamedov also received Mustafa Rifat Hisarciklioglu, the President of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey, and the sides discussed the prospects for further development and diversification of trade and economic relations between the business structures of Turkmenistan and Turkey.

The sides also noted that there are good opportunities for the expansion of bilateral trade, promotion of investment activity, as well as the development of new forms of mutually beneficial partnership.

Turkey was the first country to recognize the independence of Turkmenistan and to open its Embassy in Ashgabat. Turkey also supports Turkmenistan’s neutral status in international affairs.

Turkish businessmen have contributed to Turkmenistan’s development since the early days of independence with about 600 Turkish companies registered in Turkmenistan. In the past few years, Turkmenistan has become the premier country in Central Asia where Turkish contracting companies undertook the most projects. From the independence of Turkmenistan until today, Turkish companies assumed contracting work in the country totaling more than $34 billion.

The close relations between Turkey and Turkmenistan exist in the societal and humanitarian fields as well. Each year, numerous Turkmen citizens travel to Turkey for tourism and trade, and thousands of Turkmen students receive university education in Turkey. More than 10,000 Turkish citizens live in Turkmenistan. Such interaction forms an important bridge between the two brotherly peoples.