President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and ADB President discuss promising investment projects

President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov receives President of the Asian Development Bank Takehiko Nakao. 

Expressing sincere gratitude for the opportunity of a personal meeting and the cordial welcome, the guest confirmed the ADB willingness to widen the constructive cooperation with our country. It was noted that Turkmenistan that has a tremendous economic and resource potential demonstrated the remarkable achievements, winning the reputation of a reliable and responsible partner at the world arena. 

Underlining that strengthening of fruitful cooperation with the authoritative international organizations, including the large financial structures stands as a key vector of the foreign-policy course of our country, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov expressed satisfaction with the long-term and successful partnership with the Asian Development Bank. 

The President of Turkmenistan and his guest exchanged their views on the important areas of the bilateral cooperation, discussed the opportunities of its further development given the modern realias and plans for the future. According to the President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, Turkmenistan has joined the ADB in 2000. Among the priority areas of the productive investment cooperation are the fuel and energy sector, diversification of energy resources export routes, development of the transit and transport infrastructure, assistance to development of the small and medium-sized entrepreneurship. 

It was noted that the implementation of the infrastructural national and global projects provided wide opportunities for the efficient cooperation. Among them are the project on the construction of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project, initiated by the Turkmen leader. This transnational energy bridge is of particular importance in reviving Afghanistan, its social and economic infrastructure, creating new jobs. 

As a key partner on the TAPI project, the ADB takes an active part in its implementation. 

The interlocutors also underlined the importance of the Agreement on laying the power lines and fibre-optic lines along the route Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan. The works on laying the railway Akina-Mazari-Sharif are carried out. 

All these projects open up wide opportunities for the further cooperation between Turkmenistan and the ADB. In this regard, the President of Turkmenistan proposed the ADB to consider the possibilities to make investments into the project on the construction of the demineralized water generator system. 

Accepting the offer, the guest emphasized that the policy of peacefulness and good neighbourliness served as an efficient factor for enhancing the confidence, the mutually beneficial partnership and integration processes in Central Asia. 

Highly appreciating and fully supporting this far-seeing strategy, the Asian Development Bank expresses the willingness to provide every possible assistance to the implementation of the Turkmen leader’s initiatives, including those ones aimed at ensuring the social and economic revival of Afghanistan and its involvement into the system of the regional economic relations. 

The President of Turkmenistan and his guest considered the opportunities of creating the international transit and transport corridors, including along the route Afghanistan-Turkmenistan-Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey and then to Europe. 

It was emphasized the increased potential for cooperation in the Caspian Sea. The Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea provides a platform for the implementation of joint projects, including on the construction of pipelines and the development of marine resources. 

Cooperation between Turkmenistan and ADB also develops within the framework of the Central Asian Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Programme. The meeting participants discussed the agenda of the 17th CAREC Ministerial Conference held in Ashgabat on November 15 

President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and President of the Asian Development Bank Takehiko Nakao expressed belief that the bilateral cooperation would successfully develop and the new offers on widening the traditional ties would promote the international business contacts and attract new investments for the implementation of the high-technology projects.