Session of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan

On April 1, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov convened a regular Cabinet session to discuss issues of state life and consider some important draft documents.

After reading out the session agenda, the nation’s leader gave the floor to Cabinet Deputy Chairman B. Hojamammedov. Reporting on the activities in the structures, he is responsible for, the Vice-Premier informed about the measures taken to implement “The Development Program for the financial-economic and banking system of Turkmenistan for 2012-2016”. The report also addressed the ongoing work aimed to enhance the national economy’s export potential and to increase the volumes of Turkmenistan-made products in foreign markets.

Summing up the report, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov said that bringing the normative legal acts into conformity with requirements of the market economy and international standards is an essential condition for the economic reforms.

The effectiveness of Turkmenistan’s foreign trade activity is closely related to the provision of favorable conditions for export-import operations, as well as the protection of interests of local commodity producers, who get into the world market, the nation’s leader said, having given the Vice-Premier a number of concrete issue-related commissions.

Cabinet Deputy Chairman, Director of the State Agency for the Management and Use of Hydrocarbon Resources under the President of Turkmenistan Ya. Kakaev centered his report on the state of affairs in different sectors of the fuel and energy industry, and the measures for further realization of the “Turkmenistan’s Oil-and-Gas Industry Development Program for the period till 2030”.

After the report, the head of state gave the Vice-Premier instructions on enhancing the performance of sectoral departments in the oil and gas industry. The introduction of new technologies, attraction of foreign investments for large infrastructure projects, including the ones aimed at the development of new hydrocarbon deposits, construction of energy pipelines and modern gas chemical facilities, as well as technical re-equipment of oil processing enterprises.

The report of Cabinet Deputy Chairman E. Orazgeldiev covered the spring agri-works in the country, the measures taken to improve the procedure for foreign sales of agricultural and commodity products (through the State Commodities and Raw Materials Exchange) of ministries and agencies of the agro-industrial sector, as well as the activity of the State Commission for the Registration of Plant Protection Products.

Summarizing the report, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov directed attention of the Vice-Premier to the importance of keeping constant control over the spring agri-campaigns, first of all, the planting of cotton, vegetable and cucurbitaceous crops. Special emphasis was placed on the need to ensure compliance with agro-technical requirements and active introduction of advanced technologies and scientific achievements.

Having approved the within-said measures for the sales of agricultural and commodity products abroad and the efficient organization of the Commission’s activity, the head of state gave the Vice-Premier a number of assignments on keeping the work going.

The report of Cabinet Deputy Chairman B. Ereshov was focused on the work carried out jointly with the Industrialists and Entrepreneurs Union of Turkmenistan on stepping up the innovation-based import-substitution production. The Vice-Premier informed that a high-performance production facility for dry-mix ceramic tile adhesives had been put into operation at the Turkmenabat Ferroconcrete Structures Plant. It has an annual capacity of 4,000 tons of highly competitive adhesives, which are produced from local raw materials and meet world standards.

Commenting on the report, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov identified the introduction of innovative technologies and the expansion of import-substitution and export-oriented production with the use of locally available raw materials as the significant factors for the steady economic growth and dynamic development of the country’s industrial sector. This ensures the competitiveness of Turkmenistan-made products in the home and foreign markets, including in the building materials industry, the nation’s leader said. It is necessary to speed up the work on increasing the production of top-quality construction materials and expanding their assortment, while encouraging active participation of the private sector in the process, the head of state said.

The measures aimed to improve the procedure for transferring funds to a special-purpose account of the Ashgabat city khyakimlik were in the focus of the report made by Cabinet Deputy Chairman, Senior Manager of the Presidential and Cabinet Administration Office Sh. Durdylyev. The money is spent on financing the work on the Turkmen capital’s improvement, renovation of its engineering systems, reconstruction of roads and streets.

President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov noted the crucial importance of keeping control over the funds and their proper use. As the head of state highlighted, this will contribute to success of the town-planning and development programs, the large-scale work on the capital’s improvement.

In his turn, Cabinet Deputy Chairman B. Atdaev presented a report on the preparations for the International Construction Exhibition on April 7-9. The Vice-Premier submitted its draft work plan for consideration by the President of Turkmenistan.

In the after-report comments, the nation’s leader Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov noted that the organization of such economic forums serves as an effective instrument for showcasing Turkmenistan’s achievements in the sector, and promoting domestic products in the foreign market.

The report of Cabinet Deputy Chairperson M. Yazmuhammedova was an extensive coverage of the preparations for the cultural events to be held in April, including the ones of international importance, the festivities in honor of national holidays and remarkable dates, as well as opening ceremonies of socio- and cultural-purpose facilities timed to coincide with them.

After the report, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov emphasized that the cultural and mass events and international creative actions held in the country should represent the wide diversity of the national art and the Turkmen people’s rich cultural heritage.

Reporting on the situation in the sectors, he is in charge of, Cabinet Deputy Chairman S. Toilyev informed about the ongoing work on comprehensive reforming the country’s education system. In this connection, the report detailed the issue of opening a Department of Advanced Vocational Training at the State Power Engineering Institute of Turkmenistan to offer six weeks’ off-the-job training on a fee-paying basis.

The Vice-Premier also reported on the extensive preparations underway in Turkmenistan for the V Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, and the implementation progress of the General Plan for the 2017 Asian Games.

Having approved the proposal to open the new department at the State Power Engineering Institute, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov stressed the importance of giving close attention to the issues of training specialists for the power industry, which plays an essential role in the national economy, and assigned the Vice-Premier to keep control over the work.

Touching upon the 2017 Asian Games preparations, the head of state pointed out the significance of keeping the systematic coordinated work of the relevant structures going, as well as strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation with foreign partners, studying and introducing the world’s best practices in the field. We should do our best to organize and host the V Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games at a high level; this will be a worthy contribution of Turkmenistan to the international sport movement development, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov said, having given the Vice-Premier a number of issue-associated instructions.

Describing the situation in the transport and communications sectors, Cabinet Deputy Chairman S. Satlykov centered on drafting a Resolution on the road freight transport regulations.

As informed, in compliance with the Laws of Turkmenistan “On motor transport” and “On road traffic safety”, the document will contain main provisions for road freight transport in our country.

Focusing on the issues of ensuring close control over freight transport given the tasks assigned, the leader of nation Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov signed the Resolution, having approved the Road Freight Transport Regulations and addressed a number of concrete commissions to the Vice-Premier.

The report of Cabinet Deputy Chairman, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan R. Meredov covered the preparation of the Turkmenistan-UN Partnership for Development Framework for 2016-2020. The draft document was submitted to the head of state for consideration.

Having approved the Turkmenistan-UN Partnership for Development Framework for 2016-2020, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov highlighted its importance in the aspect of deepening the effective cooperation built on a strategic long-term basis. In this connection, the head of state signed a relevant Order and commissioned the Vice-Premier to take all necessary measures for successful implementation of the within-said Framework.

During the session, the nation’s leader also signed a Resolution on approving a number of international documents on cooperation between Turkmenistan and foreign countries in different areas.

Chairperson of Mejlis of Turkmenistan A. Nurberdyeva informed about the national parliament’s activity on upgrading the national legislation to meet the goals and objectives of our country’s socio-economic development, promotion of its democratic development.

Working groups devote special attention to the study of proposals concerning the draft Constitution of Turkmenistan, which are submitted to the parliament by ministries and agencies, political parties, public organizations, and citizens.

Emphasizing the importance of boosting the legislative activity in a number of fields, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov drew attention of the Mejlis Speaker to the strategic tasks and priorities of state development, which have a high priority on the parliament’s agenda.

Having pointed out the significance of giving close consideration to all proposals to make amendments and additions to the revised Constitution of Turkmenistan, the nation’s leader stressed that the Constitution, which protects the interests of the state and society and guarantees human and civil rights and freedoms, should work for the benefit of the people.

The Cabinet session also considered some other issues of state life and adopted the relevant resolutions.

State News Agency of Turkmenistan (TDH)