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By Sara Rajabova

Turkey eyes enhanced energy cooperation with Turkmenistan, which is home to the world's fourth largest natural gas reserves.

Turkmenistan’s joining the energy route that is expected to take Caspian Sea gas to Europe is currently a hot topic of discussions.

Energy cooperation has topped the agenda of Turkmen President Gurbanguli Berdimuhamedov’s visit to Turkey on March 3-4.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan appears keen to convince his Turkmen counterpart to transport Turkmen gas to European markets via Turkey.

Turkmenistan with vast natural gas resources is one of the key players on the gas market in the Caspian region and Central Asia.

Last year, Turkey proposed Turkmenistan to supply natural gas to Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline Project - TANAP. The project will carry Azerbaijani natural gas from Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz II Field in the Caspian Sea to Europe through Turkey.

The key players in Southern Gas Corridor project – Turkey and Azerbaijan, want to upgrade the project with Turkmen natural gas.

Following a meeting with his Turkmen counterpart in Ankara, Erdogan announced that Turkey, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan will establish a trilateral mechanism on energy issues, with the first leaders' meeting to take place in Turkmenistan.

Erdogan stressed that Turkey-Turkmenistan relations are “strategic,” particularly due to the transportation and energy cooperation between the two countries. Mentioning that Turkmenistan plays a key role in connecting Central Asian gas with international markets, the Turkish president said he had exchanged views with Berdimuhamedov on transporting Turkmen gas to European markets via Turkey.

He said Turkey will continue to work with Turkmenistan to promote regional stability, prosperity and security, adding that Turkey will focus on boosting its relations with Turkmenistan on economy, agriculture, energy and transportation.

Turkmenistan, a Central Asian country with 5.5 million people, holds the world's fourth-largest reserves of natural gas. Since independence in 1991, the post-Soviet country has sought to break its reliance on gas exports to Russia.

Berdimuhamedov, in turn noted that Turkish partners show great interest in joint supply of the Turkmen energy resources to the world markets.

He confirmed the huge prospects available for cooperation between the two countries in the above-mentioned area, which is of strategic importance. The Turkmen president also noted that at present, the international legal framework is being formed to implement these projects.

"The cooperation of Turkey and Turkmenistan in energy field is important for the security of energy supplies," Mehmet Seyfettin Erol, professor of international relations at Gazi University, told Xinhua news agency.

Erol said "if Turkmen gas is linked up with Azerbaijan and Turkey," the game may be changed in terms of energy politics.

Turkmenistan and Turkey also signed a package of bilateral documents as part of Berdimuhamedov’s official visit to Ankara, Turkmen media reported.

In particular, an intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in the fields of social protection and employment; international coordinated cargo transportation; cooperation between the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan and the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey and on a number of other documents were signed.

The volume of bilateral trade turnover between Turkmenistan and Turkey in 2014 increased by 26.6 percent and exceeded $6 billion.

Turkey ranked second in the total trade turnover of Turkmenistan, according 2015 data.

“The close and active, gaining momentum from year to year, trade and economic cooperation between the two countries is evidenced by the fact that today, various productive sectors of the economy of Turkmenistan employ about 600 Turkish companies and businesses,” according to Turkmen media.

Media reports said Turkmenistan’s president in Ankara noted the significant contribution of the Turkish partners in the formation of the textile industry of the country.

Turkish companies have been entrusted with large projects such as the construction of the international sea port in the city of Turkmenbashi and the international airport in the capital Ashgabat, as well as autobahns, road junctions and overpasses, according to Turkmenistan state news agency.

Moreover, Turkish companies actively participate in the construction of chemical industry facilities in Turkmenistan.

The two sides have fruitful cooperation in the sphere of electricity where Turkish companies are implementing a project which seeks the modernization of Ashgabat’s power supply system, and the construction of large power plants in Lebap and Mary provinces, according to media outlets.

Turkish companies also participated in the implementation of many projects in agricultural production and food industry of Turkmenistan.

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Sara Rajabova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @SaraRajabova

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