Turkmenistan, U.S. keen to develop business ties
By Kamila Aliyeva
Trade and economic relations were high on agenda as Washington hosted the Turkmen-U.S. business session on development of business ties on July 18.
The event was held with the participation of officials of Argus Ltd, Boeing, CNH Industrial, Ellicott Dredges, General Electric, John Deere, Lindsey, Microsoft, Oxbox Energy Solution, Caterpillar and Westport Trading Europe Ltd, said the Turkmen Foreign Ministry.
The Turkmen delegation included representatives of the country’s ministries, Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs.
The issues of expanding cooperation in trade, economy, energy and transportation as well as in the oil and gas industry, mechanical engineering and agriculture were on the agenda.
The United States established diplomatic relations with Turkmenistan in 1992 following its independence from the Soviet Union.
U.S. foreign assistance objectives include strengthening Turkmenistan's capacity to manage its international borders and cooperate on regional security issues, encouraging citizens to play a greater role in civil society, increasing access to quality higher education and health, and promoting private sector development and economic reforms.
Turkmenistan’s vast natural gas and oil resources continue to attract foreign companies to explore business opportunities in the country, but the Central Asian nation has yet to implement reforms needed to create an inviting business climate where foreign investment and foreign investors are truly welcomed.
Turkmenistan has signed a trade and investment framework agreement with the United States and other Central Asian countries establishing a regional forum to discuss ways to improve investment climates and expand trade within Central Asia.
Such areas as the supply of agricultural machinery, the modernization of the technical fleet of civil aviation in Turkmenistan, and the supply of electric power equipment are the key points of the long-term cooperation.
The White House also supports regional gas pipeline projects from Turkmenistan, such as TAPI (Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India) and the Trans-Caspian pipeline, which will transport Turkmen gas to Azerbaijan and onward to Europe via Turkey.
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