Session of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan

On January 15, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov presided over the regular Cabinet session to consider topical issues of state life and a number of draft documents.  Cabinet Deputy Chairman B. Hojamammedov reported on the ongoing work on upgrading the state standardization and certification system, as well as state standards for the national conformity mark.  

Having placed emphasis on the state standardization and certification system development as one of the priority objectives of Turkmenistan’s economic policy, the head of state noted that it would help to tackle a number of tasks connected with the raising competitive capacity of products, protection of the domestic market from poor-quality goods and services, introduction of leading-edge technologies, and others.  

There is a need for joining efforts of scientists, engineers, production workers, and entrepreneurs in addressing the issues. Special consideration should be given to cooperation with international organizations, which specialize in this field, and training of highly-qualified specialists for the “Turkmenstandartlary” State Service, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov pointed out, having addressed a number of issue-associated assignments.  

Having highlighted that despite the measures being taken to enhance the quality of products in the country’s consumer market, there had been recent cases of poor-quality and unsafe imports, the nation’s leader expressed dissatisfaction with the activity of the “Turkmenstandartlary” Main State Service responsible for ensuring control and testing the conformity of imported products to technical standards. 

President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov severely reprimanded Chairman of the “Turkmenstandartlary” Main State Service A. Tachmammedov for shortcomings in his work and relaxing control over the institutions he is in charge of, and warned that failure to correct the shortcomings in the shortest possible space of time would result in his dismissal.  

Then, the head of state signed the documents to sanction the following appointments: M. Sylapov – Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of Turkmenistan; A. Annamuhamedov – Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of Turkmenistan, vice-Chairman of the Pension Fund’s Management Board of Turkmenistan, Manager of the Pension Fund of Turkmenistan.  

Cabinet Deputy Chairman, Director of the State Agency for Management and Use of Hydrocarbon Resources under the President of Turkmenistan Ya. Kakaev centered his report on the implementation progress of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project.  

As was informed, the main contractor of the project (the Turkmen section), the “Turkmennebitgasgurlushyk” State Concern is currently delivering the purpose-built construction equipment and pipes to the site of the new gas trunkline, and is clearing the pipeline route. In addition, as part of the project’s first-phase, the logistical issues are being actively solved. In particular, an international tender has been held for the supply of tubular products. Preparation of the registration documents, necessary to open an office of the “Galkynysh – TAPI Pipeline Company Limited” (with the “Turkmengas” State Concern as its leader) in the city of Dubai (UAE) is in its final stage.  

The President of Turkmenistan gave the vice-premier a number of concrete commissions on further implementation of the large-scale energy project and speeding up the construction of the third-phase facilities at the giant “Galkynysh” gas field to serve as a resource base for the new gas pipeline. 

The ongoing seasonal agri-works, the measures taken to boost the production of fruit, vegetable and cucurbitaceous crops in the country were in the focus of the report made by Cabinet Deputy Chairman E. Orazgeldiev.  

Summing up the report, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov demanded to pay undivided attention to the enhancement of wheat and cotton crops productivity, the improvement of farmlands, and sufficient water supply for irrigation as key trends of the agrarian reform in Turkmenistan.  

The head of state assigned to ensure special control over timely preparation of agri-machinery and high quality of seeds. Concrete instructions were also given on application of the most advanced farming methods in the crop production sector of the agroindustrial complex, which occupies a leading position in supplying a wealth of food products to the country’s markets.  

In his turn, Cabinet Deputy Chairman B. Ereshov, who is responsible for the industrial sector of the national economy, informed about the ongoing work on further development of silk farming in the country. Thus, to produce the required quantities of silkworm eggs for the industry, a new plant (with an annual capacity of 500 kilograms of silkworm eggs) was built at the “Velayatyupek” Production Association in the city of Turkmenabat, Lebap velayat, in 2015. The newly built enterprise will be put into operation soon.  

A 2016 Silkworm Cocoon Production Plan, jointly developed with the velayat khyakimliks, was submitted for consideration by the head of state. The projected output of cocoons is 2,000 tons, distributed as follows: 155 tons – Akhal velayat; 25 tons – Balkan velayat; 470 tons – Dashoguz velayat; 950 tons – Lebap velayat; and 400 tons – Mary velayat. 

Summarizing the report, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov highlighted the importance of taking a series of measures, intended to develop the domestic sericulture industry, and bring it into line with the modern industrial standards. In this connection, the nation’s leader instructed the vice-premier to keep the related issues, including strengthening of the sector’s raw-material resource base, under unremitting control.  

The report of Cabinet Deputy Chairman S. Satlykov covered the state of affairs in the transport and communications sectors under his supervision, in particular, the ongoing work on upgrading the logistics of the “Turkmenhovayollary” State National Service. 

The vice-premier informed that the land-based infrastructure is developing in tandem with the aircraft fleet modernization. Airports in the regions, including in the city Atamyrat, Lebap velayat and in the city of Garabogaz, Balkan velayat, will be brought into compliance with international standards. 

After the report, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov expressed deep dissatisfaction with the performance of official duties by Director of the “Turkmenhovayollary” State National Service M. Ayazov due to relaxation of control over the activity of the Service’s departments, and demanded to take immediate steps to remedy the situation. The nation’s leader also addressed Cabinet Deputy Chairman S. Satlykov a number of concrete commissions on strengthening control over the work of the transport sector’s senior executives.  

Cabinet Deputy Chairman, Senior Manager of the Presidential and Cabinet Administration Office P. Taganov reported on the activity aimed at expanding Turkmenistan’s trade-economic relations with foreign countries, and establishing new cooperation mechanisms in this field. In particular, the vice-premier informed about the ongoing preparations for the Day of Turkmen Economy in Frankfurt am Main (FRG) on February 5.  

A draft plan of activities for the Day of Turkmen Economy in Germany was presented for consideration by the head of state.  

Summing up the report, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov noted that the Turkmen-German partnership has rich experience and excellent prospects in the light of the common interests and mutually complementary potential of the two countries’ national development. The head of state commissioned to take all due measures to hold the event at high organizational level.  

The report of Cabinet Deputy Chairperson M. Yazmuhammedova was an extensive coverage of preparations for Culture Days of the Islamic Republic of Iran to be held on February 2-4.  As was reported, the program of activities will consist of an arts and crafts exhibition, a concert given by Iranian performing artists and folk groups, the screening of films, a joint concert of Turkmen and Iranian children’s ensembles at the “Turkmenistan” and “Vatan” Cinema and Concert Centers. A cultural program, prepared for the guests, includes visits to the country’s museums and sightseeing tours of the capital.  

In the report follow-up comments, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov stressed the great importance of holding international cultural events, which fill the relations between Turkmenistan and its neighboring countries with new content, contribute to the strengthening of friendship and multi-aspect cooperation with the global community, wide popularization of the Turkmen people’s spiritual heritage throughout the world, mutual enrichment of national cultures. In this context, the head of state assigned to ensure the high organizational level of the IRI’s Culture Days, having created the necessary conditions for successful artistic interaction between the two friendly countries’ professional artists.  

During the Cabinet session, the nation’s leader signed the Ukase on appointing Sh. Gochyev the Director of “Turkmen Ovazy” Television and Radio Channel of the State Committee on Television, Radio Broadcasting and Cinematography, having addressed the vice-premier concrete instructions on studying the world’s best practices and employing new technologies in the mass media.  

Cabinet Deputy Chairman S. Toilyev focused his report on the state of affairs in the sectors he is in charge of, on the preparations for the V Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in 2017. At present, a wide range of organizational issues, forms of cooperation with foreign partners and leading specialists in the organization of large sporting events are under active consideration. Testing and inspection of the Olympic facilities, organization of national teams in sports, included in the Asian Games program,  appointment of a board of referees and judges, and coaching staff are important areas of the large-scale work.  

Complex measures are taken in the country to support and stimulate young talented athletes, to provide the sector with qualified coaching staff and material-technical resources, to develop the sports movement on the whole, to engage young people and children in sports activities, and to promote healthy lifestyle in the society.  

To this end, the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry, the Ministry of Education, the State Sports Committee and other institutions, khyakimliks, public organizations organize various events and activities, aimed at the development of sports and health improvement. 

In the after-report comments, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov emphasized the necessity to keep up the large-scale activity in the field of sport on the fast track, having named the development of modern infrastructure, strengthening of the country’s potential in sports, improvement of the training system for highly-qualified coaches and athletes, deepening of international relations as its priority trends. Having focused on the issues of ensuring the high organizational level of the Asian Games, creating necessary conditions for its participants and guests, the nation’s leader gave the vice-premier a number of instructions, having noted that the large sporting event should raise Turkmenistan’s international prestige in the sporting world.   

Chairperson of Mejlis A. Nurberdyeva concentrated her report on the ongoing activity of the national parliament on enhancing the country’s legislative framework. 

In the after-report comments, the President of Turkmenistan stressed the need to enhance the legislative activity in a number of areas, based on the world’s best practices and objectives of the country’s socio-economic development.  

Addressing the session participants, the nation’s leader said that the flow of poor-quality goods imported to our country had increased lately. In this context, the head of state assigned A. Nurberdyeva together with vice-premiers S. Toilyev, P. Taganov, B. Hojamammedov and E. Orazgeldiev to hold a meeting that same day to consider the issues of tightening control over the quality of products imported from other countries, and preventing purchases of counterfeit goods. If necessary, other senior officials should be invited to participate in discussions on the issue, the nation’s leader said. 

The President of Turkmenistan commissioned the Chairperson of Mejlis to propose and make the issue-related amendments to the current legislation within the shortest possible space of time.  

In this connection, the head of state outlined a number of top-priority tasks, including stricter quality control for tobacco products imported to Turkmenistan, having emphasized that the measures are intended to protect the population’s health. The Presidential instructions on ensuring the state control in the country’s market covered the following regulations. 

Firstly, import permits and licenses for selling cigarettes and other tobacco products can be issued by the Ministry of Trade and Foreign Economic Relations only.   

Secondly, the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry is authorized to issue an initial certificate for tobacco products, and only after this, a certificate can be obtained from the “Turkmenstandartlary” Main State Service. This will help to ensure double-quality control in the field.  

The Ministry’s activity on implementing Turkmenistan’s multi-vector foreign policy, and the measures aimed at promoting the important international initiatives put forward by President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov in the interests of peace, stability and global security were in the center of the report made by Cabinet Deputy Chairman, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan R. Meredov. 

The following draft Decrees were submitted for consideration by the head of state: “On approving the Regulation on procedure of fulfilling intrastate functions in the field of international treaties of Turkmenistan and their registration in the United Nations Secretariat”, “On preparing the National Actions Plan on Human Rights in Turkmenistan for 2016-2020” and “On opening the Training Center for administrative and technical staff at the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan”.  

President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov was also informed about the soon-to-be- opened Training Center for diplomatic administrative and technical staff at the MFA’s Institute of International Relations, which would run short-term three-month courses in highly-acclaimed fields for citizens with higher and secondary education.  

After the report, the nation’s leader gave vice-premier R. Meredov a number of instructions on further implementation of the 2013-2017 State Foreign Policy Concept of Turkmenistan, whose top priority is strengthening productive cooperation with large international organizations, first of all, the United Nations Organization, as well as developing political-diplomatic, trade-economic and cultural-humanitarian relations with all interested partner nations.   

Having signed the presented documents, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov noted that Turkmenistan, committed to its status of permanent neutrality, would continue to take a series of steps to meet its international commitments, while demonstrating its readiness for broader cooperation in the interests of global security and sustainable development. 

In the course of session, the head of state signed the Ukase on appointing Ch. Ahmedov the Deputy Minister of Construction and Architecture.  

Some other issues of state life were discussed at the Cabinet session, on which relevant resolutions were adopted. 

 

State News Agency of Turkmenistan (TDH)