On March 14, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov received Mark Bowman, Vice President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
During the exchange of views on priority aspects of cooperation, the effective and long-term nature of Turkmenistan's cooperation with the EBRD was noted with satisfaction. It was noted that along with the positive results achieved, new promising areas of partnership are opening up, one of which was named energy.
At the same time, the commitment of Turkmenistan, which has rich natural resources, to cooperation in this area through diversification was emphasized. Consistent steps are also being taken in our country to introduce environmentally friendly technologies into the industry and develop "green" energy. This provides ample opportunities for the EBRD to participate in projects and initiatives in the field of sustainable energy implemented in Turkmenistan.
Transport was also identified as one of the relevant areas of cooperation. It was noted that the favorable geographical location of our country is a key factor in the development of the transport and logistics system. Here, special attention is paid to the formation of interconnectedness of all modes of transport. Work is underway to create multi–vector North–South and East-West transport corridors of regional and international importance.
In this context, the emphasis was placed on the prospects of activating international communications on the Caspian Sea, for which it is necessary to optimally use the available opportunities. It was also noted that there is a great potential to increase the capacity of the Turkmenbashi International Seaport, which is an important link on the routes connecting Europe and Asia. In this regard, the Head of state confirmed Turkmenistan's readiness to consider specific proposals from the EBRD to participate in projects to create transport and transit corridors.
During the meeting, the issue of cooperation in the field of agriculture was also raised. Comprehensive work is being carried out in our country to develop the agro-industrial sector, where the introduction of water-saving technologies is an important aspect. At the same time, it was noted that Turkmenistan supports the interaction of relevant domestic departments with the EBRD on the construction of irrigation facilities and the use of high-tech specialized equipment.
The topic of intensifying fruitful cooperation between banks and the private sector of our country with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, including expanding contacts in the field of lending to small and medium-sized businesses, and providing consulting services in this area, was also the subject of an interested discussion.
