To the participants of the international conference and exhibition "International Transport and Transit Corridors: Connectivity and Development – 2024"

26.11.2024

Dear participants of the International Conference and Exhibition! Dear guests! I sincerely congratulate you on the start of the International Conference and Exhibition "International Transport and Transit Corridors: Connectivity and Development – 2024" in independent and neutral Turkmenistan, held in the year "The Treasury of Wisdom Magtymguly Pyragy" and dedicated to the World Sustainable Transport Day! In the era of the Revival of the new epoch of the powerful state, we attach great importance to the modernization of the country's transport and communication system and the expansion of mutually beneficial international cooperation. In strengthening the legal foundations of transport diplomacy and the capabilities of the state's transport sector, improving and implementing legislation in this area, the "Program of the President of Turkmenistan for the Development of Transport Diplomacy for 2022–2025" plays an important role. According to this document, which includes the main directions of the national transport policy, it is planned to achieve a wide range of strategic goals and take appropriate measures. Also among the main tasks of this Program is the creation of integrated multimodal transport and transit corridors through the effective use of the potential of our sovereign Motherland. Dear participants of the International Conference and Exhibition! Our independent country attaches great importance to the development and diversification of logistics. As a result of the implementation of the transport and communication strategy, Turkmenistan systematically strengthens its position as an important transport and logistics center of regional and international significance. The declaration in 2023, at the 70th plenary meeting of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly, at the initiative of Turkmenistan and with the unanimous support of UN member states, of November 26 as "World Sustainable Transport Day" is a clear confirmation of the broad recognition of our country's initiatives of global significance. In addition, the proposals put forward by Turkmenistan over the past few years have received consistent support from the UN General Assembly. This is vividly evidenced by the 6 resolutions recently adopted by the UN General Assembly at the initiative of our country. With the participation and in accordance with the proposals of our independent state, a lot of work is being done in the field of transport and transit communication. The Agreement between the governments of Iran, Oman, Qatar, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan on the creation of an international transport and transit corridor operating in the North-South and East-West directions (Ashgabat Agreement), the "Lapis Lazuli" Agreement on transit and transport cooperation, the Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran railway line testify to the implementation of fundamental transformations in the introduction of the latest transport technologies. Within the framework of the Europe-Caucasus-Asia International Transport Corridor (TRACECA), reforms are being carried out to revive the Great Silk Road and modernize multimodal transportation. Currently, our country is implementing a number of important projects to expand the capacities of seaports, develop shipbuilding, construct highways, railway bridges, airports, and increase transport capacities. Such a representative forum will significantly expand international cooperation in the field of sustainable transport, clearly demonstrate to the whole world Turkmenistan's position in international transport and transit systems, including in the East-West and North-South transport corridors, with its innovative potential in the field of multimodal freight transportation. Currently, Turkmenistan's proposals to bring relations in the transport sector to a qualitatively new level contribute to the unification of efforts in this direction. The regional and global initiatives of the National Leader of the Turkmen people have played an important role in the creation of transport and transit and logistics systems in Central Asia and the Caspian region. Today, for the development and support of the infrastructure of the multimodal transport and communication system, including railways, road and sea routes, ports, Turkmenistan is guided by the need for cooperation between the public and private sectors. Based on the importance of attracting investments in this area, special attention is paid to the creation of competitive national logistics companies. Strengthening ties with international organizations in the field of transport is an important task of modernity. In the course of this activity, our country cooperates with such organizations as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), the International Road Transport Union (IRU), the Organization for Cooperation of Railways (OSJD), the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Within the framework of cooperation, large-scale work is being carried out to organize specialized training, train international-level specialists, effectively use supply systems, modernize and develop international legal documents. Dear participants of the International Conference and Exhibition! Improving the internal transport infrastructure, its active integration into the international transport and logistics system, and accelerating the pace of transit freight transportation are of great importance for economic progress. Therefore, Turkmenistan, from the high rostrum of the United Nations General Assembly, calls for attention to these issues not only at the national or regional level but also on a global scale. At the initiative of Turkmenistan, the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolutions aimed at developing a qualitatively new format of cooperation in the field of transport. These important documents are evidence of the success of the transformations carried out by Turkmenistan in the transport sector in the world arena. Dear participants of the International Conference and Exhibition! Dear guests! Once again, I sincerely congratulate you on the start of the International Conference and Exhibition "International Transport and Transit Corridors: Connectivity and Development – 2024", dedicated to the World Sustainable Transport Day! I wish you good health, family well-being, and great success in your work! President of Turkmenistan Serdar BERDIMUHAMEDOW.