The sphere of transport and communications is the most important component of the economy of any state. The dynamics of its development largely determines the dynamics of the development of the entire country. In turn, one of the integral components of the transport infrastructure is the freight and passenger transportation service, which is responsible for timely and high-quality service in various areas. It is no coincidence that this topic has repeatedly become a subject of discussion at meetings of the Government of Turkmenistan.
The real steps taken by Turkmenistan to revive the Great Silk Road in the context of the accelerated formation of a modern transport and transit logistics infrastructure of the country have given a powerful impetus not only to the national economy, but also to regional development trends. Occupying an exceptionally advantageous geographical position - at the intersection of international transport routes running through Central Asia, Turkmenistan has enormous transit potential, which the head of state Serdar Berdimuhamedov seeks to realize with maximum efficiency.
Currently, systematic work continues to develop new organizational documents to build up international cooperation in the transport sector. In strengthening the legal framework for transport diplomacy and the capabilities of the state transport industry, improving and implementing legislation in this area, an important role is given to the "Program of the President of Turkmenistan for the Development of Transport Diplomacy for 2022-2025". According to this document, which includes the main directions of the national transport policy, it is envisaged to achieve a wide range of strategic goals and take measures to modernize the material and technical base of all types of transport, form specialized infrastructure, etc.
Also among the main objectives of this Program is the creation of unified multimodal transport and transit corridors by effectively using the relevant potential of our sovereign country.
At the 70th plenary meeting of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly, on the proposal of Turkmenistan and with the unanimous support of the member states of the Community of Nations, November 26 of each year was declared World Sustainable Transport Day, which is a recognition of the broad support for the initiatives of global importance put forward by our country.
In order to highlight Turkmenistan's efforts to develop transport communications, achievements and initiatives in this area, contribution to the development of the UN Program for the Sustainable Transport Decade for 2026-2035, a ministerial meeting of the Group of Friends of Sustainable Transport, created at the initiative of the Turkmen state, was held on April 16 this year in the UN building.
This is further evidence of the recognition by the Community of Nations of the importance of our country's international initiatives put forward by the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and successfully implemented by President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, as well as increasing the authority of an independent neutral Fatherland in the world.
With the participation and in accordance with the proposals of our sovereign state, a lot of work is being done in the field of transport and transit communications. Within the framework of the TRACECA project, systematic reforms are being carried out to revive the Great Silk Road, introduce the latest transport technologies, organize and modernize the multimodal communications system, which helps to unite efforts to bring this area to a qualitatively new level.
In this context, the initiatives of the regional and global level of the National Leader of the Turkmen people played an important role in the creation of relevant transport, transit and logistics corridors in Central Asia and the Caspian Sea, in the gradual development of these areas.
At the extended meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers on the results of the first half of the year, held on July 12, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov emphasized that in order to solve the tasks set before the transport and communications complex, it is necessary to continue to increase the pace of passenger and cargo transportation, improve the quality of services provided.
The development of international economic relations and foreign trade of Turkmenistan determines the increase in the volume of processed cargo flows, in servicing which the role of existing and newly created large transport hubs of our country is systematically increasing.
The current year, held under the motto "The Treasure of Magtumguly Pragy's Mind", was marked by an important project in the transport sector. Thus, on April 17, with the participation of the head of state, a ceremonial commissioning of the Tejen-Mary section of the Ashgabat-Turkmenabat high-speed highway was held.
This significant event once again confirms that in the era of the Revival of a new era of a powerful state, as a result of the successful implementation of large-scale reforms initiated by Hero Arkadag under the leadership of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, the country is working to modernize the transport and communications infrastructure. This, in turn, determines the effective functioning of transport and transit corridors of Turkmenistan, contributing to its establishment as a major transport hub of international importance.
The construction of the 600-kilometer Ashgabat-Turkmenabat highway started on January 24, 2019. Its construction is carried out in three stages: Ashgabat-Tejen (203 kilometers), Tejen-Mary (109 kilometers) and Mary-Turkmenabat (288 kilometers).
As is known, the first section Ashgabat-Tejen was put into operation with the participation of the National Leader of the Turkmen people Hero Arkadag in October 2021.
The commissioning of the Ashgabat-Turkmenabat high-speed highway will provide an opportunity to significantly increase the capacity of the country's transport system and the quality of logistics services. Improving the transport system, in turn, will have a huge impact on the dynamics of the national economy.
Along with the construction of highways of international and national importance, work is intensively underway on the construction of roads at the velayat and inter-etrap level. After all, the rapid development of industry and agriculture in the country must be supported and supported by the emerging transport infrastructure. In addition, large-scale road construction allows creating thousands of new jobs in all regions, improving communications between velayats, increasing the flow of transit vehicles of foreign countries through the territory of Turkmenistan, and improving traffic safety.
Thanks to the initiatives of the National Leader of the Turkmen people and the tireless efforts of the head of state, the foundations of a new stage in the development of the country's economy were laid, and the implementation of international projects in the field of air transport began.
At the above-mentioned expanded meeting of the Government, the President of Turkmenistan instructed the relevant leaders to carry out work on the reconstruction of airports and the constant renewal of aviation equipment.
Foreign economic relations in the field of civil aviation are carried out on the basis of more than 50 international agreements and conventions with various countries. Turkmenistan is a member of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the Council on Aviation and Airspace Use and the Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC), and also cooperates with the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
New airports equipped with advanced equipment are being built and put into operation in our country. Among them are the International Airport of the capital with a capacity of up to 1,600 passengers per hour, international air harbors in the cities of Turkmenabat and Kerki in the Lebap velayat. An important event in the development of domestic civil aviation was the laying of the foundation stone of a new international airport in the city of Jebel in the Balkan velayat with the participation of the head of state.
The fleet is regularly replenished with modern Boeing and Airbus aircraft. In particular, several Boeing aircraft of various modifications and other airliners, including two new Airbus A330-200 cargo aircraft, were purchased in a short period of time, which is an indicator of the competitiveness of the national airline in the world market.
At the beginning of the year, a new passenger airliner "Boeing 777-300 ER" landed at the International Airport of the Turkmen capital. The air fleet of the air carrier "Turkmenistan" received its first aircraft in early December last year.
The ground infrastructure of Ashgabat International Airport is also developing, on the territory of which there are hangars intended for parking and maintenance of various types of airliners, which allows for constant monitoring of the technical condition of cargo and passenger aircraft in accordance with the requirements of the time and international standards. This is the main condition for the long-term use of aircraft and ensuring flight safety.
The C-check hangar complex of the "Turkmenhovayollary" agency includes an aviation technical center equipped with modern equipment for servicing aircraft.
Since the beginning of this year, regular passenger flights Ashgabat-Abu Dhabi-Ashgabat, Ashgabat-Kuala Lumpur-Ashgabat, Ashgabat-Jeddah-Ashgabat, Ashgabat-Ho Chi Minh City-Ashgabat, Ashgabat-Milan-Ashgabat have been opened.
Among the tasks set by the head of state for the heads of the transport and communications complex is increasing the capacity of the country's railway system and improving its material and technical base.
The development of the railway industry, taking into account the exceptional importance of this type of transport, which bears the main burden of mass transportation over long distances, is one of the priorities of our state, which relies on the steady strengthening and expansion of trade and economic ties with all interested countries.
This industry is increasingly faced with high demands that affect various areas of activity - improving business efficiency, introducing modern management methods, consistently updating the resource base and rational use of rolling stock, ensuring a high level of service and safety for passengers, and working conditions for personnel.
Currently, the length of existing railways reaches 5173.4 kilometers, with 3947.1 kilometers of them being main roads.
It should be noted that a number of major projects have already been implemented in the transport sector. Among them are the Uzen-Bereket-Gorgan, Kerki-Ymamnazar-Akina, Ashgabat-Dashoguz (Karakum), Zerger-Kerki steel highways. The construction of railways with their connection to the railway system of neighboring countries contributed to the increase in the transportation of transit goods.
At present, our country is recognized as a state that is an important link in transit flows: the transnational steel highway Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran, the Kerki-Ymamnazar-Akina, Serhetabat-Turgundi railways, the International Sea Port of Turkmenbashi, the transport corridors Afghanistan-Turkmenistan-Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey, etc. In this context, our Fatherland, located at the crossroads of the Great Silk Road, attaches great importance to the restoration of its historical role in the world, implements important projects in this direction, develops transport and communication links with the states of the region and international organizations.
Thus, from April 15 to 19 of this year, the XXXVIII meeting of the Conference of Heads and Responsible Representatives of Railway Transport Enterprises of the Member States of the Organization for Cooperation between Railways (OSJD) was held in the Turkmen capital. The representative forum was attended by heads and specialists of relevant departments, railway administrations from more than 20 OSJD member countries.
Among the important topics of discussion was the expansion of bilateral cooperation within the Organization, including the development of a contractual and legal framework for cooperation. The parties considered the possibility of holding the main OSJD meetings, as well as realizing the potential of freight and passenger transportation in our country along existing and newly opened routes, in particular, along the transnational railway Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran.
As is known, the Ashgabat forum was marked by the 30th anniversary of the membership of the "Turkmendemiryollary" agency in the Organization for Cooperation of Railways. On the occasion of the significant date, the Chairman of the OSJD Committee M. Antonovich presented the "Turkmendemiryollary" agency with a special commemorative sign.
Following the meeting, the Ashgabat Declaration was adopted, aimed at strengthening fruitful partnership and trusting relations with the OSJD member countries in the region.
One of the key tasks set by the President of Turkmenistan at the above-mentioned extended meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers is to fully utilize the potential of the Turkmenbashi International Sea Port and the Balkan Shipyard.
The growth rate of services for the first six months of the current year by the "Turkmendenizderyayollary" agency is 108.9 percent.
Over the years of independence, large-scale projects for the comprehensive modernization and development of marine and river transport infrastructure have been implemented, the number of cargo and passenger transportations has increased, the development of ports and port facilities continues, state control over safety and navigation at sea is being improved, large-scale work has been carried out to protect the environment of the Caspian Sea and strengthen the legislative framework of the industry, regulatory documents have been developed and adopted, and our country has joined several international conventions regulating maritime trade.
Partnerships have been established with a number of large authoritative structures, such as the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), the Islamic Development Bank (ISDB), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and the OPEC International Fund (OFID). In addition, in order to obtain the relevant certificates of recognition of international navigation of vessels in accordance with safety requirements, active cooperation is underway with such classification societies as the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RMRS) and the French inspection and certification company Bureau Veritas (BV).
Along with other Caspian states, Turkmenistan pays great attention to increasing the capacity of the national shipping fleet as part of measures aimed at expanding international trade and economic ties and diversifying trade routes. In recent years, tankers and other merchant vessels have been built and put into operation by order of the Turkmen side, the high performance characteristics and innovative equipment of which meet the modern requirements of maritime transportation.
The advanced infrastructure of the port is capable of satisfying not only existing but also future demand with high-quality supply and high-class service. Its full capacity will lead to fundamental changes in the logistics chains of continental cargo transportation, an important hub of which will be Turkmen transshipment terminals as the most optimal for the shortest and most profitable routes.
The Balkan shipbuilding and ship repair yard is a fundamentally new production in the national economic complex of the country, which laid the foundation for the emergence of domestic shipbuilding. Since the beginning of this year, repair work has been carried out on one foreign and local sea vessels, a dredging vessel and two dry cargo ships are under construction. Their commissioning will allow transporting domestically produced goods on our own ships.
Maximum use of the capabilities of the Turkmenbashi seaport, the specifics of delivering large-sized and heavy cargo to the Caspian region by various modes of transport, their transit to other Central Asian states through the territory of our country will bring cooperation to a new level, which will facilitate the integration of Turkmenistan into the system of world economic relations.
At an expanded meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers following the results of the first half of the year, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov also identified modernization of the domestic communications system in accordance with the requirements of the time among the priority tasks.
The head of state pays special attention to the issues of introducing advanced technologies and equipment, increasing the types of digital services, as well as establishing mutually beneficial international cooperation in this area.
The successfully implemented "Concept of Development of Digital Economy in Turkmenistan for 2019-2025" is a unique platform for technological transformation of all industries and their public administration, economic development based on the country's vast resources and production potential.
According to the relevant Resolution of the President of Turkmenistan, the "Turkmenaragatnashyk" agency is designated as the authorized body for the development of the digital economy in our country. Within the framework of the tasks assigned to the agency, activities are carried out in the field of local and cellular telephone communications, the Internet, postal services, digital economy, cybersecurity, satellite communications, broadcasting of national television and radio channels, and training of specialists.
The Laws of Turkmenistan "On Communication", "On Postal Communication", "On Electronic Document, Electronic Document Management and Digital Services", "On Electronic Government", "On Cybersecurity", "On Legal Regulation of the Development of the Internet and Internet Services in Turkmenistan", "On Information and Its Protection", "On Space Activities", "On the Radio Frequency Spectrum", "On Courier Communication" and others related to the development of the telecommunications sector and the introduction of the digital economy in the country were adopted.
General approaches and principles for the organization, operation and monitoring of management processes for fixed and wireless communication systems, telecommunication networks, etc. are being developed. The implementation of the plans will significantly improve the quality of life of the population, including rural areas, the efficiency of the national economic complex and the competitiveness of the national economy, its full integration into the world market and investment attractiveness.
Thus, the large-scale work launched in our country to improve the transport sector serves as another clear indication that caring for people and improving the well-being of the people is a priority of the socially oriented policy pursued by the President of Turkmenistan in the era of the Revival of a new era of a powerful state.
