Session of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan

On January 29, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov convened a regular session of the Cabinet to discuss some draft documents and a number of important issues of state life.
Reporting on the activity of the institutions he is in charge of, Cabinet Deputy Chairman B.Hojamammedov informed about the work on employment assistance for the population.

Based on the law, a draft of “The Procedure for rendering unemployment registration and job placement services in Turkmenistan” was prepared. To effectively tackle the tasks set in the field, efforts are being taken to exploit the country’s manpower potential according to the needs of different sectors of the economy and to ensure the maximum level of employment among the working-age population. 

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 fulfillment of earlier presidential commissions on improving the activity and management structure of the oil and gas sector.

By now, a draft Regulation on the Ministry of Oil and Gas of Turkmenistan has been prepared jointly with the Ministry of Adalat. The vice-premier also informed about the implementation progress of some large investment projects, which would increase export potential of the country’s fuel and energy sector.

After signing the Decree on approving the within-said Regulation, the head of state addressed the vice-premier a number of concrete assignments concerning well-considered introduction of advanced world experience and modern methods in the sector’s management system.

Next speaker, Cabinet Deputy Chairman E.Orazgeldiev made a report on the progress of seasonal agri-works in the country, preparation of farmlands, seeds and agri-machinery for the spring sowing of vegetable and cucurbitaceous crops. In addition, a complex of agro-technical works is being done on handling winter cereals, including vegetative watering, and mineral fertilizers application.

Reporting on the implementation progress of assignments given earlier by the President of Turkmenistan on the improvement of agricultural sector’s management structure, the vice-premier submitted a draft Decree “On approving the Regulation on the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Economy of Turkmenistan”, and “On approving the Regulation on the Environment Protection and Land Resources State Committee of Turkmenistan” for consideration by the head of state.

Summing up the report, the head of state outlined the enhancement of wheat and cotton crops productivity, and the improvement of farmlands as main objectives. Concrete instructions were also given on application of the most advanced farming methods in the crop production sector of the agro-industrial complex. Having focused attention on the necessity to adequately supply markets with vegetable and cucurbitaceous products, the nation’s leader gave the vice-premier instructions to study the issues of their industrial processing and export.

Having signed the Decrees “On approving the Regulation on the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Economy of Turkmenistan”, and “On approving the Regulation on the Environment Protection and Land Resources State Committee of Turkmenistan”, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov gave a number of recommendations to the vice-premier for improving the agro-industrial complex management and implementing the state environmental policy.

The state of affairs in the sectors he is responsible for, the measures taken to diversify and modernize the national economy’s industrial sector, as well as the implementation progress of earlier presidential commissions on stepping up the import-substituting production were key issues the report made by Cabinet Deputy Chairman B.Ereshov was centered on.

As was reported, commissioning of a new industrial complex, built in Ak Bugday etrap, Akhal velayat in accordance with the contract between the Ministry of Industry of Turkmenistan and “Chaly” Individual Enterprise, made it possible to systematically tackle the task of supplying the country’s domestic market with locally produced waterproof materials.

The production process at the enterprise, tooled with the state-of-the-art equipment, is based on the use of local raw materials. The projected annual capacity of the complex is 10,000,000 sq. meters of high-quality izogam (a bitumen-based membrane) and folgoizol (foil-backed waterproof material). All in all, the sector’s enterprises produce 13,000,000 sq. meters of waterproof materials annually and have everything necessary to boost their production since petroleum bitumen, used as a main raw stock, is produced at the country’s oil refineries in sufficient amounts.

In the report follow-up comments, the head of state stressed the need to accelerate the efforts targeted at the sector’s development, creation of new enterprises, processing local raw materials. 

President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov also instructed vice-premiers B.Ereshov and P.Taganov to explore the possibilities of expanding cement production in the country, and to entrust the construction of mini-cement plants with an annual capacity of 100,000 tons to entrepreneurs. If necessary, representatives of the private sector should be rendered assistance in obtaining loan funds for construction of the within-said enterprises in the shortest possible space of time, the nation’s leader said.

In his report, Cabinet Deputy Chairman S.Satlykov covered the situation in the sectors answerable to him, the implementation progress of commissions given earlier by the head of state on transformation of the transport and communications sector’s organizations and enterprises into joint stock corporations.

The vice-premier informed that in accordance with the Decree of the President of Turkmenistan, a number of closed joint-stock corporations, including “Demirýolçy”, “Türkmen Hemrasy”, “Deňiz Söwda Floty” had been established. As was reported, the relevant services had prepared the documents necessary to transform “Turkmenistan” Air Transport Enterprise into an open joint-stock corporation.

Pointing out the transport infrastructure modernization as an essential condition for the country’s socio-economic development and successful international cooperation, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov stressed the need to widely employ state-of-the-art facilities and equipment in the field and addressed the vice-premier a number of concrete issue-associated commissions.

The report made by Cabinet Deputy Chairman, Senior Manager of the Presidential and Cabinet Administration Office was focused on preparations for the upcoming exhibition of export goods of the Republic of Turkey and the Turkmen-Turkish business forum in Ashgabat on February 9-11. 

After giving the vice-premier specific commissions on the events’ organization, the nation’s leader expressed dissatisfaction with work of the State Commodities and Raw Materials Exchange of Turkmenistan, pointed out a number of shortcomings in the organization of its activity and instructed to correct them in the shortest possible space of time.

The report of Cabinet Deputy Chairperson M.Yazmuhammedova was an extensive coverage of the festive program of activities in honor of Turkmenistan’s State Flag Day.
Stressing the utmost importance of culture in moral and patriotic education, first and foremost, of young people, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov focused on the study of our country’s historical and cultural monuments. Having pointed out that the issue had been raised by him before, the nation’s leader noted that to date, the study of the country’s history and national heritage is unfortunately not up to the mark. There is no systematic and balanced approach to the protection and restoration of historical and cultural monuments, illustration of their social significance through the organization of excursions for tourists.

In this connection, addressing vice-premiers M.Yazmuhammedova and S.Toylyev, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov necessitated creating a special commission at the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan for the in-depth study of the Turkmen people’s history. There are also good reasons for establishing a special fund for restoration and protection of historical monuments, the head of state said.

The head of state stressed the necessity to carry out restoration work at the Nisa historical site located not far from Ashgabat – the capital of Parthia, and the monuments in Anau.

In his turn, Cabinet Deputy Chairman S.Toylyev informed about the work done on preparation for publication of the “Turkmen Language Explanatory Dictionary”, which contains nearly 50,000 words, new terms and phrases, as well as the “Turkmen Language Spelling Dictionary” (nearly 110,000 words). The new dictionaries have been submitted for consideration by the special commission to comment on the actuality and completeness of their lexical definitions.  

Having highlighted the importance of the editions, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov noted that these are the first dictionaries, which have been prepared in the years following the country’s independence. Appreciative to scientists and specialists who had been working over the dictionaries, the head of state assigned to give presentations on them at the Academy of Sciences, and to publish them with the number of copies big enough to meet the needs of employees of all organizations, teachers, students, and schoolchildren.

Then, the floor was given to Cabinet Deputy Chairman Sh.Durdylyev to report on extensive renovation of old roads and construction of new ones in the capital, as well as on modernization of residential buildings, neighborhoods and power transmission lines.

The head of state was presented proposals concerning the construction of a new power transmission line and a transformer substation, prepared in the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Turkmenistan and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran on cooperation in construction of power transmission lines Mary (Turkmenistan) – Mashhad (Iran). 

As part of the project, aimed to expand exports of Turkmen energy to neighboring Iran, two power transmission lines are planned for construction, including a 150-kilometer section from the Mary Hydroelectric Power Plant to the city of Sarakhs (Iran) (with a capacity of 500 KW) and a 15-kilometer section from the city of Sarakhs to the border with Iran (with a capacity of 400 KW).

In the after-report comments, the President of Turkmenistan emphasized the importance of the measures taken for the capital’s further development. Ashgabat should be a model city in all aspects, the head of state said, all the city-planning work should be carried out as scheduled and with top quality.

The nation’s leader also stressed the significance of the projects ongoing in the country, aimed to renovate the existing power stations, construct new high-performance plants and high voltage power transmission lines.

President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov also underlined the need to actively introduce new technologies into road construction. As was noted, today the oil and gas complex fails to supply sufficient amounts of high-quality bitumen to the road construction sector; therefore it is purchased from foreign countries.

In this connection, vice-premiers Sh.Durdylyev and S.Toylyev were commissioned to address the issue directly, while engaging the Academy of Sciences in work, as well as to study the advanced foreign experience and know-how. Having highlighted that the task of supplying the road construction sector with raw materials should be tackled promptly, the head of state instructed to report on the steps taken at Cabinet sessions.

Reporting on the Ministry’s activity, Cabinet Deputy Chairman, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan R.Meredov informed about the measures taken to further develop cooperation with international organizations.

As was reported, Turkmenistan is a member country of 44 international organizations, 15 of which have representative offices in Ashgabat. It is well-known that cooperation between our country and the United Nations, as well as large specialized agencies such as UNDP, UNICEF, UNESCO, WHO, UNECE, Economic and Social Council, and others has a strategic character.

A number of events, devoted to the issues of strengthening productive cooperation in some key areas, are also planned for this year with the participation of representatives of international organizations.

Focusing attention on the huge untapped potential for further deepening and broadening the constructive cooperation with the international organizations, the nation’s leader addressed the Foreign Minister a number of the issue-associated commissions, including on ensuring a high organizational level of the upcoming events.

Pending the issue of cooperation with foreign partners, the head of state dwelt upon relations between Turkmenistan and the Russian Federation, based on the long-standing traditions of friendship and neighborliness, principles of equality, long-term partnership and mutual benefit. Topical issues of the Turkmen-Russian cooperation received close consideration during the meeting (on January 28) between President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov, who had arrived in Ashgabat.

As the nation’s leader stressed, Russia is one of our country’s strategic partners; the future-oriented cooperation between our countries has a progressive and effective character. It has considerable potential and possibilities both in the trade-economic and the humanitarian-cultural fields. In recent years, the Turkmen-Russian dialogue has been advancing more and more actively on the regional level as well. Thus, Turkmenistan has established close relations with large industrial and cultural centers, as well as with some regions of the Russian Federation, including the Republic of Tatarstan, the city of St. Petersburg, Astrakhan and Sverdlovsk Regions.

Having emphasized firm commitment of Turkmenistan and the Russian Federation to strengthen the traditional cooperation both in bilateral and multilateral format, within the United Nations and other authoritative international organizations and agencies, the head of state gave the vice-premier a number of assignments concerning the Turkmen-Russian relations development.

The report of Mejlis Chairperson A.Nurberdyeva was centered on the national parliament’s work on improvement of the country’s legislation and on preparation of a draft Law of Turkmenistan “On amendments and additions to some legislative acts of Turkmenistan”.

After the report, the head of state stressed the need to further improve the legislative activity, to draw up new normative legal acts, which should be in conformity with present-day requirements and international standards.

Addressing the vice-premiers, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov noted that a number of large and important facilities are to be constructed and put into operation in the country in 2016. Having demanded to give special consideration to the quality and delivery terms of projects, the nation’s leader assigned to hold within one week meetings in the sectors under their supervision to analyze the progress and state of construction works, having instructed to ensure strict control over the situation in the field.

Then the head of state informed that over the past few years he had been collecting information from different sources of the Turkmen people’s spiritual culture, and later the staff of the National Institute for Manuscripts turned the invaluable material into a well-designed book. The book appeared under the title “The source of wisdom”. Having stressed that the sayings collected in the edition had not lost their topicality and poetic originality, and undoubtedly would be a priceless material for all experts and admirers of the Turkmen people’s traditions and culture, whose revival had been identified as the key state objective, the nation’s leader presented copies of the book to the session attendees.

A number of other important issues of state life were also considered, and the relevant documents were signed at the Cabinet session.

 

State News Agency of Turkmenistan (TDH)