Session of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan

On October 10, While on a working trip to Balkan velayat, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov convened an out-of-office session of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan to consider the important issues of state life and some draft documents.

First speaker, Cabinet Deputy Chairman, Minister of Foreign Affairs R. Meredov informed about the Ministry’s ongoing activity, the outcomes of the official visit to the Republic of Uzbekistan by our country’s Government delegation led by President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov.

Placing accent on the effectiveness of the summit talks in Tashkent, the nation’s leader has highlighted the need to consistently implement all the bilateral agreements (which cover a wide spectrum of Turkmen-Uzbek interaction) reached and specified in the documents signed.

Next speaker, Cabinet Deputy Chairman B. Hojamammedov centered on the activity of the sectors answerable to him, as well as on the implementation progress of earlier presidential assignments. Reporting on the work carried out by the economic agencies, the Vice-Premier informed about practical steps taken to upgrade some normative legal acts of Turkmenistan, which regulate labor relations, in particular, the Procedure and Terms of damages reparation by the employer in case of the work-related damage (harm) to health of the employee or his accidental on-site death. In accordance with Article 219 of the Labor Code of Turkmenistan, the issue-related Procedure is established by the country’s Cabinet of Ministers. As the Vice-Premier informed, the document now in force needs to be revised and approved by the Resolution of the head of state. The issue-associated work is currently under way.

Having Addressed a number of concrete commissions to the Vice-Premier, the head of state assigned to prepare the relevant draft Resolution.

Reporting on the activity of the sphere she is in charge of, Cabinet Deputy Chairperson M. Yazmuhammedova submitted for consideration by the nation’s leader a draft Resolution “On announcing the ‘Türkmeniň Altyn asyry’ Contest of the President of Turkmenistan among the literary workers, workers of culture and art, young amateur singers and gifted children”. As was reported, the competitions for the young talented amateur singers – “Ýaňlan, Diýarym!” and gifted children – “Garaşsyzlygyň merjen däneleri”, would be traditionally held as part of the Contest.  The results of contests are planned to be announced in September or October, 2016. The contest commission is comprised of highly competent professionals. 

Placing emphasis on the significance of the creative contest annually held in the country, the nation’s leader directed attention of the Vice-Premier to the necessity of taking a rigorous approach to the selection of works for the contests that should be distinguished by their topicality and artistic merit, should reflect the modern achievements of the Turkmen state and society, and contribute to the patriotic and aesthetic education of the youths. Necessitating further improvement of the sphere of culture and mass media and intensification of the work on discovering new talents, the head of state signed the relevant Resolution.

The report of Cabinet Deputy Chairman E. Orazgeldiev covered the implementation progress of the seasonal agri-works ongoing in the country, including the cotton harvesting campaign. As of now, 700,000 tons of “white gold” is harvested in the country. At the same time, the winter wheat sowing campaign is nearing completion; vegetation watering is kept going in the field planted to winter wheat.

The Vice-Premier also informed about the measures taken to implement the Program for supplying the population with clean potable water.  

The report also included information about preparations for inauguration of new facilities built against the order of the ministries and agencies of the agricultural complex.

Summing up the report, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov Addressed the Vice-Premier a number of specific commissions on raising the level of crop capacity, introducing innovative technologies in the sector, implementing large investment projects aimed to create modern agroindustrial infrastructure.

In his report, Cabinet Deputy Chairman S. Toilyev focused on the work ongoing in the sectors he is responsible for, particularly on drafting a Resolution “On sponsors, accounting and the use of sponsor money and free humanitarian aid, contributed to the fund of the Executive Committee for the V Asian Games”.

In the after-report comments, the nation’s leader emphasized the need of a well-considered and comprehensive approach to tackling the tasks of preparations for the Asiad-2017.

As the head of state stressed, to ensure a high organizational level of the Games, Turkmenistan is actively cooperating with all interested partners, including the well-known foreign companies with a wealth of experience in holding large-scale sporting events, and the related international organizations.

In continuation of the topic, having noted that highly-efficient sponsorship of preparations for large international events and their information support are widely practiced in the world today, the nation’s leader stressed the significance of a responsible approach to the selection of potential sponsors for the 2017 Asian Games, and instructed the Vice-Premier to keep control over the relevant issues.

Then, Cabinet Deputy Chairman B. Hojamuhammedov reported on the realization course of the “Turkmenistan’s Gas-and-Oil Industry Development Program for the period till 2030”.

The report covered the information about the new facilities, which had been put into operation at the Turkmenbashi Refinery Complex on October 9.

The Vice-Premier also focused on the outcomes of a working tour to London, Great Britain (on September 28 – October 1) to participate in the “Turkmenistan’s Gas-and-Oil Industry – opportunities for investments”.

The reports on the TAPI project implementation progress evoked great interest at the forum. In this connection, foreign companies were acquainted with the opportunities to become a member of “TAPI Ltd.”, participate in the project funding, become a contractor, and with other potential possibilities for cooperation. The Turkmen party emphasized its readiness to consider the proposals in this field.  Potential partners were provided with the geology and geophysics data on the within-said licensed activities, as well as introduced to the economic and legal conditions for them stipulated by Turkmenistan’s legislation.

The heads of “Dragon Oil”, “Petronas”, “CNPC” – our country’s long-standing partners, informed the forum participants about the efficiency of joint work with Turkmen specialists. The report made by the chief executive of “Gaffney, Cline & Associates” outlined excellent prospects for further development of Turkmenistan’s gas and oil resources.

In the frames of the forum, a seminar was organized on the legal and taxation issues of the Trans-Caspian gas pipeline project, export potential in this area. The Turkmen delegation also had meetings with representatives of foreign business circles. In particular, a number of Japanese companies evinced interest in taking part in the international gas pipeline projects, including the TAPI project. Besides, the world’s leading companies expressed their willingness to participate in the offshore development projects in the Caspian Sea (Turkmen sector), as well as in the advancement of Turkmenistan’s gas chemical industry.

The Vice-Premier also concentrated on the outcomes of the working trip made to the Republic of Philippines to participate in the talks with the board of governors of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on the issues of funding the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project.

During the meeting, the ADB’s senior executives highly appraised Turkmenistan’s economic growth, and assured that the large financial institution they are in charge of, would continue to actively participate in the TAPI project, and would keep the issues in the center of their attention. As was highlighted, the Bank’s activity will not be restricted to financing only; it will render every kind of assistance in attracting credit sides, as well as will take part in the coordination of the work on attracting other interested finance parties and investors. The Bank can also act as guarantor for finance parties.

It was also noted that the ADB had successfully completed the work as a Transaction Advisor, and would do its best to encourage in-full implementation the project.

In the report follow-up comments, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov has stressed that Turkmenistan’s energy strategy is mostly aimed to efficiently unleash our country’s huge hydrocarbon potential, and to promote mutually advantageous international cooperation in the fuel and energy sector that meets national and common interests.

The Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project, destined to export 33 BCM of natural gas, serves as a future-oriented vector of diversified transportation of Turkmen energy resources, the head of state continued, having underlined that the project participants had come close to its practical implementation. In particular, the Turkmen natural gas sale-and-purchase contracts had been made; the “TAPI Ltd.” Consortium had been established, and its leader – the “Turkmengas” State Concern had been appointed.

Extensive and interest-based discussions are well under way on the potentialities of Turkmen energy carriers’ transportation in the European direction.  In this regard, the Trans-Caspian gas pipeline project is rather perspective project, the nation’s leader said.

Besides, in compliance with the Program for Turkmenistan’s Industrial Development till 2030, new supermodern gas and oil refining facilities will be constructed.

The head of state gave the Vice-Premier a number of instructions on further modernization of the oil and gas industry’s production infrastructure, diversification of the country’s fuel and energy complex, taking of the task-oriented steps aimed to increase exports of petrochemical products to the world markets.

The activity of the supervised sectors, the measures taken to build the industrial sector’s production infrastructure were in the center of the report made by Cabinet Deputy Chairman B. Ereshov. The Vice-Premier also informed about the ongoing preparations for the 7th Intergovernmental Turkmen- Belarusian Commission for Economic Cooperation in Ashgabat.

The upcoming meeting will focus on the plans for further trade-economic cooperation in its priority areas, including industry, construction, textile industry, agriculture, and technologies. Consideration will also be given to the issues of advancing cooperation in the humanitarian sphere – science, education, health care, sports, tourism, and culture.

In the frames of the meeting, the head of the Belarusian delegation is expected to pay a visit to the mining-and-processing complex for production of potash fertilizers under construction at the Garlyk potassium salt field, Lebap velayat.

Having noted the importance of implementing the large industrial complex construction project at an accelerated pace, the head of state has highlighted that the work is ongoing in compliance with the national comprehensive program for the country’s industrialization, aimed to realize the country’s enormous economic potential more fully, to increase production of the export-orientated industrial products. In this connection, the nation’s leader gave the Vice-Premier a number of assignments on holding the within-said meeting at a high level.

The report of Cabinet Deputy Chairman S. Satlykov was an extensive coverage of the state of affairs in the sectors answerable to him, including the implementation progress of the works ongoing in the “Avaza” National Tourist Zone. As was reported, construction is in progress of some facilities, in particular a five-star 350-capacity hotel, an aquapark, a modern sports complex, cottages, a yacht club, and others.

The report also included the information about fulfillment of the commissions given earlier by the head of state on erecting a monument at the circled interchange of the Arkadag Avenue in the “Avaza” National Tourist Zone; its scheme design was submitted for consideration by the nation’s leader.

The President of Turkmenistan Addressed concrete assignments to the Vice-Premier concerning in-depth study and practical application of the world’s best practices in the field, exercising of state technical supervision over construction of all the facilities. At the same time, the head of state placed special accent on the significance of ensuring ecological well-being in the “Avaza” National Tourist Zone located in the unique, picturesque corner of the Turkmen land.

After considering the organizational issues, the nation’s leader appointed A. Isaev khyakim of the city of Turkmenbashi, having relieved him of the post of khyakim of Garabogaz, Balkan velayat, and A. Kauchitov – khyakim of Garabogaz city, having relieved him of the position of deputy khyakim of the city.

The report of Cabinet Deputy Chairman Sh. Durdylyev was centered on the implementation progress of the Ashgabat Redevelopment Program. As was informed, in compliance with the 2015 Action Plan, new residential buildings are currently being constructed at an accelerated pace; a number of buildings and facilities, including housing facilities, are being reconstructed. The report also covered the information about the measures aimed at the timely comprehensive modernization of social infrastructure, transport-communications and utility networks, energy supply systems in Ashgabat.

After the report, the head of state highlighted the necessity of taking a responsible approach to tackling the issues of the Turkmen capital’s further development and its image improvement. Touching upon the topic of inauguration of new facilities in the capital, the nation’s leader commissioned to ensure a high organizational level of the upcoming events timed to the 24th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s independence.

In his turn, Cabinet Deputy Chairman, Chief Manager of the Affairs Management Department of the President’s and Cabinet’s Administration P. Taganov informed about preparations for the Turkmen-Belarusian business forum to be held in Ashgabat on October 14.

A draft Resolution “On holding exhibitions, fairs and conferences by ministries and sectoral agencies in 2016” was also submitted for consideration by the head of state.

Having signed the within-said Resolution, the head of state stressed the significance of such events for advancing international partnership, and gave executive directives on activating modern approaches to the issues of the sphere.

Some other issues of state life were discussed at the Cabinet session, and the appropriate resolutions were adopted.

 

 

State News Agency of Turkmenistan (TDH)