Azernews.Az

By Aynur Jafarova

Turkmenistan's capital Ashgabat will host the regular meeting of the Turkmen-Bulgarian Intergovernmental Commission for Economic Cooperation on July 3-4.

The participants of the meeting will discuss steps to increase partnerships in trade and economic, transport and communications, construction and agriculture, as well as fuel and energy sectors, Trend Agency reported.

The projects of interstate treaties and agreements aimed at enhancing the legal framework of cooperation will also be among the discussed issues of the intergovernmental commission's meeting.

Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov said at a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers that his country is interested in expanding cooperation with Bulgaria, based on equality and mutual benefit.

The trade turnover between the two countries amounted to $76.13 million in 2013.

Ashgabat and Sofia periodically discuss the possibilities of supplying the Turkmen gas to Bulgaria.

Turkmenistan is one of the key players in the energy market of the resource-rich Caspian region. The Central Asian state has the world's fourth largest natural gas reserves after Russia, Iran, and Qatar, and produces about 70-80 billion cubic meters of gas a year.

Turkmenistan intends to increase the production volume and export of natural gas, and diversify the routes of supply to major world markets as part of its energy strategy.

The Bulgarian companies offer their services in the field of exploration, development and transportation of hydrocarbon resources, as well as establishing appropriate pipeline infrastructure.