Azernews.Az

By Aynur Jafarova

Central Asia is turning into a region of political and energy influence, Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov said in an interview to the local media.

The Turkmen president paid an official visit to Japan on September 11-13.

Western analysts believe that Turkmenistan with its rich hydrocarbons and a favorable geographic location is one of the key areas in Central Asia, which is beginning to become a region of political, energy and other influence, Berdymukhamedov said.

According to him, the Japanese partners have developed a strong belief in the economic power of Turkmenistan as well as in the availability of natural resources.

Berdymukhamedov regarded the progress in the negotiations as "trusting, open and very constructive".

Commenting on the results of his visit, the Turkmen president said the two countries signed major contracts and framework agreements on the construction of plants for processing gas and chemical raw materials in Turkmenistan.

The total cost of the projects for the construction of gas and chemical plants, which will be carried out by leading Japanese companies in the near future, is more than $10 billion.

"An effective model of cooperation has been formed between Turkmenistan and Japan, which meets the spirit of the time and the equal mutually beneficial partnership," Berdymukhamedov said.

The Turkmen president believes that Japanese technologies will contribute to "turning Turkmenistan into an industrially developed country".

Japanese Toyo Engineering Corporation and the consortium of LG International Corporation -- Hyundai Engineering Corp. Ltd will carry out the construction of a gas-chemical complex producing polyethylene and polypropylene.

Also, a facility on the production of sulfuric acid in the Turkmenabat chemical plant will be constructed by Mitsui Engineering and Shipbuilding Co. Ltd.

Furthermore, the sides signed four framework agreements. According to them, Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. will construct a facility on processing natural gas into gasoline; Tsukishima Kikai Co Ltd. will build a facility producing sodium sulfate and wash powder in Garabogaz city, while Mitsubishi Corporation - a facility on the production of ammonia and carbamide in Garabogaz and Sojitz Corporation, Chiyoda Corporation, Nippon Steel and Sumikin Engineering Co. Ltd. - a facility on processing natural gas into liquid fuel.