An enlarged session of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan

On November 24, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov convened an enlarged session of the Cabinet of Ministers to discuss the priority issues of the state’s and society’s life activity, as well as some drafts of the documents. The session was attended by representatives of the country’s Mejlis, khyakims of velayats and Ashgabat city, rectors of higher educational institutions, heads of ministries and agencies, mass media.

Having announced the session’s agenda, the leader of nation gave the floor to the Chairperson of Mejlis A. Nurberdyeva, who informed about the outcomes of the National Parliament’s seventeenth session of the fifth convocation held on November 23. At the parliamentary session, the Law «On the State Budget of Turkmenistan for 2017» and the Resolution of Mejlis «On execution of the State Budget of Turkmenistan for 2015», as well as a number of new laws and legal acts developed with a glance to the priorities of the state policy, were unanimously approved.

Among the adopted laws were also the Laws «On Ombudsman», «On the amateur and folk arts of Turkmenistan» and «On food security.»

Commenting on the report, the leader of nation Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov noted that the compass course of state strategy was to ensure the successful life of the population, protection of the rights and interests of the citizens. In 2017, like in previous years, the country’s social policy will focus on the growth of people’s welfare.

Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Minister of Foreign Affairs R. Meredov reported on the upward trends in the Foreign Ministry’s activity in pursuing the neutral Turkmenistan’s foreign policy strategy, as well as on keeping going the readiness measures for the Global Sustainable Transport Conference, which will be held on November 26-27 in Ashgabat.

The fact that over recent years Turkmenistan won the reputation of a host country of regular events of international character, including large forums with the agenda focused on the urgent regional and global issues and challenges, is a direct result of the country’s constructive foreign policy based on the principles of peace, good neighborliness and mutuality-based cooperation.

In this regard, voiced from the high rostrum of the United Nations and approved by the global community of nations, the Turkmen leader’s constructive initiatives acquire the ever-growing importance. A visual evidence of it is also the two Resolutions on transport issues adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2014 and 2015. On the basis of these documents, Ashgabat will host the within-said Global Conference, which will be attended by the heads of states, governments and parliaments of several countries, heads and representatives of the authoritative international organizations, official delegations from dozens of countries of the world.

Summarizing the report, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov has emphasized that in the long run, independent neutral Turkmenistan would strictly follow the course of broad international cooperation, strengthening effective links with all foreign partners concerned. Regarding the upcoming Global Sustainable Transport Conference as an event of paramount importance, the head of state has instructed Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, head of the Foreign Ministry to take all necessary measures to hold the upcoming forum at a better and higher level in terms of organization and content.

Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers S.Satlykov reported on the state of affairs in the industrial sector, on the use of budgetary funds, and the implementation progress of the presidential commissions on building up the country’s transit-transport potential. The vice premier reported also on the implementation progress of the important sectoral projects, on unleashing the untapped potential of the transnational transport system, and on taking measures taken to increase the regional and inter-regional freight and passenger traffic volumes.

Having emphasized that to accelerate the transport sector development what is above all needed is to introduce new technologies, strengthen business contacts with foreign partners through the exchange of experience and useful ideas, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov charged the vice premier with specific executive instructions.

Next speaker, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Ya.Kakaev, reported on the progress of a number of large investment projects implemented in the energy sector, as well as on the measures taken for implementing the earlier presidential errands, including the ones on applying the budgetary funds to increase the productivity of the structural units of the oil/gas and geological spheres.

Summarizing the report, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov focused on the key aspects of the state’s energy strategy aimed at the optimum unleashing of the untapped hydrocarbon sector potential, intensification of the mutually beneficial cooperation with all the countries concerned.

Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers B.Ereshov reported on the activities of organizations and enterprises under his supervision, on activating the output-favored measures, increasing production of the industrial products competing favorably with similar products in the country and abroad. Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers also informed about the spheres the budgetary funds were allocated in.

Stressing the need for steady implementing of the development-favored programs adopted in the industrial sector, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov focused on the importance of modernizing the industry’s infrastructure through introduction of innovative technologies and advanced developments. In this context, placing special emphasis on the accelerated formation of the national electronics industry, the Turkmen leader charged Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers with the task of achieving the goals set, using all the reserves and sources available.

Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers B.Khojamammedov reported on the state of affairs in the subordinate structures, as well as on the implementation of presidential commissions on streamlining the mutual settlements in the national economy. The information was also presented about the measures taken to further improve the activities of the financial and banking, tax and statistical institutions. Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers also informed about the state budget execution.

Summarizing the report, the head of state has necessitated keeping tougher control over the targeted use of the budgetary funds by the ministries and agencies.

Attention of the session’s attendees was also focused on the issues related to paying by December 20 the salaries, pensions, state benefits and scholarships of students and trainees in connection with the upcoming New Year’s holidays. The President of Turkmenistan instructed the officials concerned to keep control over proper and timely implementing the commission.

Then the floor was given to Cabinet Deputy Chairman B.Atdaev, who reported on the state of affairs in the trade sector, on the use of budgetary funds allocated for the development of the sector. Reporting on the implementation progress of the presidential assignments, Cabinet Deputy Chairman informed about the ongoing preparations for the December 1 event in the running year - German Economy Day. After hearing the report, the Turkmen leader Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov emphasized that intensification of the by-now productive dialogue with the Federal Republic of Germany was regarded as one of the strategic vectors of Turkmenistan’s foreign policy focused on advancing of the equitable partnership with the leading European powers.

In this regard, Vice premier was instructed to organize a business forum at the high organizational level.

Cabinet Deputy Chairperson G.Mammedova, reported on the readiness measures progress for the festive events dedicated to Neutrality Day and New Year’s holidays.

It was noted that on the occasion of anniversary of neutrality, it is planned to hold countrywide: the meetings, creative competitions, concerts - in the exhibition and concert centers, museums and libraries; solemn actions (meetings), open lessons and competitions - in the educational institutions; scientific conferences and other events - in the institutes of the Academy of Sciences.

On December 12, the celebrations in the capital will traditionally start with the ceremony of laying flowers to the Arch of Neutrality; the gala concert with participation of figures of culture and art will be held in «Maslahatlar köşgi».

Readiness measures are also in progress for worthy celebrating the New Year events. In the days prior to the New Year, festive performances and other creative events will be held in the central squares and cultural centers of the capital and velayats. The country’s main New Year’s Tree will be installed in the square in front of the cultural and entertainment center «Älem».

The report included also information about the final events on the occasion of proclaiming the city of Dashoguz in 2016 - the cultural capital of the Commonwealth of Independent States. The International Cultural Forum, to be held on December 6-7, will be attended by representatives of the CIS Executive Committee, Interstate TV and Radio Company «Mir», figures of culture and art masters of the Commonwealth countries. The grand ceremony on summing up the Year’s results and the final gala-concert will be held in the Ruhyet Palace in Dashoguz.

The vice premier also reported on keeping control over the rational use of budgetary funds allocated for the development of the cultural sector.

Summing up the report, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov focused attention on the other celebrated-in-December holidays which are of great importance for our nation and state. In this regard, the Turkmen leader necessitated showing very responsible approach to the celebration of Neutrality Day of Turkmenistan and New Year. The President of Turkmenistan charged to hold the ceremony of lighting the country’s Main New Year’s Tree on December 23.

Cabinet Deputy Chairman, Manager of the President’s and the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan Administration Sh. Durdylyev reported on the ongoing works on Ashgabat city improvement and on the rational use of funds of the centralized and local budgets.

Vice premier, in particular, informed that at present, in accordance with the General Redevelopment Plan of the Capital, the works are picking up speed on improving the residential areas, reconstructing the houses facades, upgrading the power-generating system, landscaping and gardening works.

In this regard, the leader of nation instructed vice premier to exercise strict control over all the current woks aimed at improving the image of the modern, dynamic Ashgabat, which over recent years has become a visit card of great success and achievements gained in the new historical epoch.

Then vice premier R.Bazarov reported on the implementation progress of agri-works.

Reporting on the preparedness rate for the Harvest Festival celebrated annually in our country on the last Sunday of November, the vice premier presented the action plan of the upcoming celebrations.

In the after-report comments, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov gave a number of executive instructions on effective managing the arable lands, rational and environment-healthy use of water and land resources of the country’s agriculture.

Then, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers S.Toilyev reported on the situation in the supervised structures, the targeted use of budgetary funds, and, in particular, on the ongoing work in the education sphere.

In this context, the vice premier reported on implementing the presidential assignment to study the issue of sending the Turkmen top-of-the-class students to the prestigious foreign universities for getting education at the expense of the state.

As was reported, the need of different sectors in the qualified personnel was analyzed, and an appropriate list of the demand-driven specialties was prepared, Among them are: selection of crops and seed production; international marketing; macroeconomics; innovation systems; agri-food processing; and biotechnology; international economics law; economics and management of transport equipment; manufacturing and logistics; avionics and space engineering; industrial engineering; international strategic management; insurance; financial markets and the economy; information and communication; technology; electronics and information technology; web design; programming; and others.

For improving educational training in the within-said fields, it is planned to send Turkmen students to the leading higher educational institutions of the USA, Great Britain, France, Korea, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, which take the leading positions in the relevant world ranking list. As part of the report, the information was voiced about the measures taken for organizing winter holidays of schoolchildren in the children’s recreational and entertainment centers.

Stressing that creation of necessary conditions for Turkmen students for getting high-quality comprehensive education, successful mastering the chosen professions and professional skills is one of the Turkmenistan’s state policy priorities, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov instructed to carefully consider the issue of training the Turkmen students in the best universities abroad. Having focused attention on the upcoming winter vacations, falling on the New Year holidays, the President charged the vice premier with specific commissions on organizing interesting and useful leisure time for the schoolchildren in general, including in the modern recreational and entertainment centers located in the picturesque resort town of Gokdere and other parts of the country.

Khyakim of Lebap velayat Ch.Charlyev reported on the ongoing preparations for commissioning of the Asian International Railway Transport Corridor (the first stage) of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Tajikistan railway, as well as other events. Emphasizing the crucial importance of the upcoming event, the Turkmen leader has charged the khyakim with a number of specific commissions on conducting the comprehensive preparations for the high-level opening ceremony of the first stage of the Asian International Railway Transport Corridor.

Then khyakims of Mary, Dashoguz, Akhal, Balkan velayats reported on the situation in the regions, on the outcomes of the works accomplished, as well as on the course of seasonal field works, and practical steps taken to successfully meet the tasks arising from the implementation of the National Rural Development Program.

Summing up the reports, the President charged the dignitaries to take all necessary measures to ensure the regions’ comprehensive upward advancement and exercise constant tough control over fulfillment of all the planned works.

State News Agency of Turkmenistan (TDH)