The President of Turkmenistan: establishment of integrated transport infrastructure is an urgent need of the time

President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov spoke at the Global Conference on Sustainable Transport, which is held in Ashgabat under the United Nations Organization aegis. 

In his speech, the president of Turkmenistan expressed his confidence that establishment of integrated balanced and high technology transport infrastructure is urgent need of the time and one of the priority goals of sustainable development. The Head of the State noted that Turkmenistan presented two projects of relative resolutions for the review by the UN General Assembly, which were unanimously adopted. Numbers of the states of the world became the co-authors of these projects. 

Initiative policy of Turkmenistan in this direction under the UN support gives results, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov mentioned, having highlighted that dialog on the subjects of development of the world transport assumes more purposeful character at the highest level and new participants as the states, companies, international organizations and institutions are being involved into this.

The Head of Turkmenistan stated that it is obvious that establishment of relative transport, transit and logistic system in the Central Asian and Caspian regions is one of the most important parts of this process. This is about the establishment of ramified, complex and combined infrastructure of transport communications, which cover continental Eurasia with the entry to marine terminals of the Black Sea and Baltic regions, South and South East Asia, Middle East and Asian Pacific regions. On national level, Turkmenistan already started realization of large-scale programme of establishment, development and modernization of transport infrastructure. 

Construction of automobile roads, intersections and bridges is carried out rapidly in the country. Recently, Ashgabat International Airport has been opened; the construction of International Sea Port undergoes in Turkmenbashy. Largest in the region automobile and railroad bridges across the Amudarya River would be put into operation in the beginning of the next year, the Head of the State said. 

The Leader of the Nation highlighted that transport strategy of Turkmenistan is based on maximum use of geographic advantages, logistic opportunities and infrastructure for establishment of large transportation hubs. Turkmenistan together with its partners implements number of international projects. Kazakhstan – Turkmenistan – Iran railway, which was recently put into operation, is capable for transportation of around 10 – 12 million tons per year.

The Head of the State informed that opening of the first part of the railway Turkmenistan – Afghanistan – Tajikistan would be held after tomorrow. It will become the part of Asian international transport corridor, which will run through the territories of participating countries and Kyrgyzstan and will connect to ramified railroad network of China and farther to the markets of the Asian Pacific region. 

The Leader of the Nation also noted that realistic perspectives for direct entry to the Middle East are opened by the project of international transport and transit corridor Uzbekistan – Turkmenistan – Iran – Oman, the Agreement on which was signed in Ashgabat. 

President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov highlighted that Turkmenistan follows the vision of Central Asia as integral and important part of modern global processes of development. The Head of the State said that in this case, we observe real opportunities for cooperation with competent regional organizations such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organizations, Eurasian Economic Union, the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Economic Cooperation Organization

President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted that, initiating global dialog on transport range of problems at the UN level, Turkmenistan proceeded from the fact that it is directly related to fulfilment of the Goals of sustainable development. 

Formation of modern transport and transit infrastructure, involvement of new territories means establishment of new work occupancies, construction of social facilities, the Head of Turkmenistan highlighted, having noted that provision of ecological security of transport corridors and infrastructure have to be at the priority level. 

Additional opportunities for increase of mobility of people, satisfaction of their needs to visit new countries and communicate with representatives of other nations are opened with establishment of shortest transport routes. It gives good impulse for establishment of human contacts, which favours closing of relations and understanding of peoples, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted.