Session of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan

On January 22, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov convened an out-of-office Cabinet session in the Congress Center in the “Avaza” National Tourist Zone to consider topical issues of state life and a number of draft documents.

After announcing the session agenda, the head of state gave the floor to Cabinet Deputy Chairman B. Hojamammedov, who is in charge of the financial and economic sector.

The Vice-Premier informed about the ongoing large-scale work aimed to modernize the country’s financial-economic system, step up the measures taken in this direction, as well as steadily increase macroeconomic indicators of the national economy. The report also included the information on fulfillment of the earlier presidential commissions on ensuring control over law observance in financial relations.

After the report, the nation’s leader Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov focused attention on the importance of effective tackling all the tasks set before the financial organizations. It is necessary to take efficient measures designed to ensure the national economy’s systematic development, and to keep the monetary policy implementation under strict control, the President of Turkmenistan stressed. Professional development of specialists in the field continues to be an important objective, the head of state said, having assigned to take concrete steps in this area. Placing emphasis on the need of well-coordinated work of the economic institutions to maintain high growth rates in all the sectors, the nation’s leader addressed a number of instructions to the Vice-Premier.

In his report, Cabinet Deputy Chairman, Director of the State Agency for the Management and Use of Hydrocarbon Resources under the President of Turkmenistan Ya. Kakaev covered the state of affairs in the sectors he is responsible for, program-specified measures taken to expand production capacity and enhance export potential of the country’s oil and gas industry. The issues concerning the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline construction project (which is of great importance to the region) were considered separately.

Having demanded to focus attention on the issues of international cooperation development in the country’s fuel and energy complex, active introduction of advanced experience and innovative methods, and training of highly-qualified personnel, the head of state highlighted the significance of employing a comprehensive scientific approach in this field.

Stressing the enormous international importance of the TAPI project, aimed to make a considerable and beneficial impact on ensuring energy security in the region, the nation’s leader gave the Vice-Premier a number of assignments concerning the project construction.

In his turn, Cabinet Deputy Chairman E. Orazgeldiev reported on the current situation in the agro-industrial sector, as well as on preparations for commissioning of water facilities completed in Akhal velayat.

The new complex will supply irrigation water to newly cultivated lands in Altyn Asyr and Kaahka etraps. As part of the construction project, a main water collector has been built from the Karakum River to the farmlands. Water-lifting facilities with pump plants will ensure a reliable water supply to the farmlands located above the water level of the Karakum River.

Summing up the report, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov emphasized the vital importance of the new water facilities. Having expressed dissatisfaction with the poor water supply of farmlands in Akhal and Balkan velayats, as well as the slow pace of plowing in the fields, the head of state gave the Vice-Premier concrete instructions on speeding up the work in this area. 

Having focused on the seasonal agri-campaigns, the President of Turkmenistan demanded to take a series of measures to ensure timely and qualitative preparation of the agro-industrial complex’s sectoral departments for spring sowing of cotton and other crops. The nation’s leader gave a number of commissions on ensuring the adequate pre-sowing treatment of farmlands.

The report of Cabinet Deputy Chairman B. Ereshov was an extensive coverage of the state of affairs in the branches of the country’s industrial sector, answerable to him, the implementation progress of earlier presidential commissions on improving the activity of the sectoral enterprises, and strengthening their logistics. Special consideration was given to the issues relating to the modernization of chemical enterprises.

Pointing out the importance of taking steps to optimize the activity of textile enterprises, especially of carpet-weaving enterprises in compliance with present-day requirements, the head of state also assigned the Vice-Premier to tackle the tasks of upgrading chemical production facilities, and expanding industrial capacity with all responsibility and on the scientific basis.

Cabinet Deputy Chairman S. Satlykov centered his report on the ongoing work on strengthening the material-technical base of the sectors, he is responsible for, through innovative technology adoption.

The Vice-Premier also informed about the state of facilities under construction in the sectors, and the measures aimed at developing the “Avaza” National Tourist Zone.

The President of Turkmenistan highlighted the topicality of upgrading organizational approaches in the activity of the fields of transport and communications, replacing their technical facilities with modern special-purpose vehicles and state-of-the-art equipment. This is an indispensable condition for Turkmenistan to be ranked as an international transit-transport center.

The head of state gave the Vice-Premier a number of instructions concerning the maintenance of optimal ecological well-being on the Caspian Sea coast, further development and landscaping of the “Avaza” National Tourist Zone.

Then, Cabinet Deputy Chairman, Manager of the Affairs Management Department of the President’s and Cabinet’s Administration P. Taganov presented a report on the large-scale measures taken to boost the efficiency of work ongoing in the country’s trade and services sector within the Industrialists and Entrepreneurs Union, to stimulate the trade-economic relations and strengthen the sector’s production basis. 

Having commissioned to keep constant control over the issues relating to strengthening of the trade and services sector’s potential, development of international business contacts, the nation’s leader noted a growing role of domestic business, particularly in construction of social and industrial facilities. The head of state stressed the necessity to further encourage business initiatives of local producers, small and medium-sized enterprises, having addressed the Vice-Premier commissions on developing a public-private partnership in the trade-economic field.

The program of cultural events to be held in honor of the remarkable dates and inauguration of social and cultural facilities, the ongoing work on improving the activities of the country’s cultural sphere, publishing industry, and mass media were key issues the report made by Cabinet Deputy Chairperson M. Yazmuhammedova was centered on.

Having concentrated on the importance of successful tackling the tasks, specified by the reforms carried out in the field of culture, the head of state assigned to activate international cooperation, which facilitates reciprocal exchange of experience and mutual enrichment of cultures.

Reporting on the activity in the sectors answerable to him, Cabinet Deputy Chairman S. Toilyev informed about the influenza prevention efforts under way in the country.

As noted, in view of reported cases of the influenza A/H1N1 in other countries, Turkmenistan has considerably strengthened mass prevention and control measures for influenza and other acute respiratory viral infections. To date, there have been no confirmed cases of the influenza A/H1N1 in our country; a special action program has been adopted to prevent the outbreak and spread of the disease. The level of sanitary and epidemiological surveillance and immunization has been raised.

To prevent the introduction of the dangerous infection into the country, medical control measures have been considerably enhanced at the international airports in Ashgabat and Turkmenbashy, as well as at the international seaport of Turkmenbashy. Thermal scanners, installed at the airports and seaport, can detect symptoms of the disease and measure temperature of passengers, their temperature from a distance.  All due measures have been taken in medical and preventive treatment institutions, other health care facilities and medical services, which are supplied with necessary medicines and antivirals, personal protective devices, and others. The effectiveness of all activities is analyzed at regular meetings of the Inter-sectoral Healthcare Commission, which confirms a safe epidemiological situation in the country.

After the report, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov instructed to ensure regular monitoring of health and disease control activities, vaccination and mass prevention measures for influenza, as well as to step up the mass prevention efforts, including through the media.

Cabinet Deputy Chairman Sh. Durdylyev submitted proposals for the construction of modern roads and bridges (which had been developed on earlier instructions from the head of state) for consideration by President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov.

A 90-meter suspension bridge is planned for construction along the road leading to the village of Tyaze Zaman, Derveze etrap, Akhal velayat. The 33-meter-wide bridge with two-way traffic will have three lanes on each side.

Proposals for reconstruction of the 49-meter-long and 47-meter-wide Ashgabat-Geokdepe highway and construction of a 108-meter-long and 42-meter-wide road bridge over the railway were also presented for consideration by the head of state.

In the after-report comments, the nation’s leader underlined the need to ensure tight control over the ongoing work on further improvement and renovation of transport infrastructure in rural areas, and instructed the Vice-Premier that the work should meet strict international standards.

Then, Cabinet Deputy Chairman, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, R. Meredov took the floor to report on the work aimed at creating a reliable system for the protection of the Caspian Sea ecology. In this connection, the Foreign Minister informed about preparations for the upcoming meeting of the Interdepartmental Commission of Turkmenistan for the Caspian Sea.

As reported, the meeting will sum up the results of work done in 2015, as well as will determine short-term objectives and priority areas of the Commission’s activity given the proposals put forward by the Turkmen side, which are aimed at the conservation, reproduction and sustainable use of the biological resources of the unique natural water body, its ecological safety and development of mutual regional cooperation.

Our country’s long-term ecological policy is targeted to achieve the same objectives; a number of important projects and programs are being implemented jointly with all interested partners, including large international organizations and specialized agencies.

The national and unparalleled mega-project, the “Avaza” National Tourist Zone on the ecologically clean Caspian Sea coast, is of exceptional importance. Thus, one of the main criteria set for numerous modern hotels, health resorts, and industrial enterprises under construction at the seaside is their conformity to international ecological safety standards.

The ecological aspect serves as a basis for the ongoing large-scale landscaping work. In recent years, man-made evergreen forests, new park areas have appeared on the coast. They create a favorable microclimate and have powerful beneficial effects on health and mood of holidaymakers.

Having stressed the enormous importance of the work done in this field, the head of state stressed that Turkmenistan, a strong advocate of peace, harmony and stability in the Caspian region, stands for the continuation of a constructive dialogue with the Caspian littoral states with a glance to national interests, combined efforts to implement future-oriented joint projects aimed to protect and conserve the Caspian Sea ecology. To promote the region’s sustainable development, Turkmenistan has put forward a number of present-day initiatives from the United Nations rostrum, including on transit-transport cooperation.

To define the Caspian Sea’s international and legal status, further expand cooperation between the littoral states, and coordinate the Caspian Sea-related activity of ministries and sectoral agencies, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov approved the composition of the Interdepartmental Commission of Turkmenistan for the Caspian Sea, having signed the relevant Resolution.

According to the Order of the head of state, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan and the State Enterprise for the Caspian Sea under the President of Turkmenistan were authorized to convene the 43rd meeting of the Special Working Group for drafting a Convention of the legal status of the Caspian Sea in Ashgabat on January 27-29, 2016 at the level of deputy foreign ministers of the littoral states.

During the session, the head of state also signed a Ukase on appointing Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Turkmenistan to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (the city of Riyadh) O. Charyev as Permanent Representative of Turkmenistan to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

The report made by Chairperson of Mejlis of Turkmenistan A. Nurberdyeva was focused on the national parliament’s current activity, the measures for strengthening and developing a legal framework for the socio-economic reforms in the country, tackling the tasks in the lawmaking field for 2016 - the Year of honoring heritage and transforming the country.

In the report follow-up comments, the nation’s leader highlighted that the legislative activity should be based on present-day requirements, be true to life and be able to respond quickly and flexibly to world trends.  The head of state also noted the need to keep the work going on improving the current laws and adopting new ones, which are aimed at promoting democracy, law and public order, protecting civil rights and freedoms, as well as Turkmenistan’s dynamic socio-economic development and improving the people’s wellbeing. 

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

 

State News Agency of Turkmenistan (TDH)