Turkmenistan International Affairs - The Times Of Central Asia

Viewing results 67 - 72 of 163

ADB Launches New Strategy for Turkmenistan

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) announced its new country partnership strategy for Turkmenistan on August 28. The strategy is designed to help the country develop a competitive, diversified, and knowledge-based economy driven by an innovative private sector. Under the new strategy, which spans from 2024 to 2028, the ADB’s assistance will focus on three strategic priorities: supporting the green transition to a sustainable and climate-resilient economy, promoting economic competitiveness through diversification with an emphasis on private sector and human capital development, and promoting structural reforms and institutional development. The ADB Director General for Central and West Asia, Yevgeniy Zhukov, commented: “ADB and Turkmenistan have a longstanding partnership, and the new strategy underscores our unwavering commitment to the country’s development. We will continue working closely with the government and Turkmenistan’s development partners to help the country realize its ambitious long-term development goals.” The ADB will support Turkmenistan’s green transformation with investments in energy efficiency, renewable energy, low-carbon pilot projects, and policy reforms. The bank will continue to help Turkmenistan develop long-term decarbonization plans and reduce methane emissions. The ADB will also support the development of sustainable and integrated transport networks focusing on railways along crucial trade corridors. Recognizing the critical role of the private sector in driving inclusive economic growth in Turkmenistan, the ADB will help build an export-oriented private sector and continue supporting domestic financial institutions, including improving access to capital for small and medium-sized enterprises targeting export markets. To support human capital development, the ADB will help reform the country’s healthcare sector to improve access, quality, and the range of services.

Central Asia Turkmenistan International Affairs Turkmenistan International Affairs Turkmenistan Business & Economy Business & Economy

Turkmenistan and Iran to Expand Cooperation in Natural Gas and Transport

On August 28, the chairman of the Halk Maslahaty (People’s Council) of Turkmenistan, the country's former president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, visited Iran and held talks with the Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian. Iran’s Press TV news agency quoted Pezeshkian as describing four memorandums of understanding signed during Berdimuhamedov’s visit as “strategic,” saying that a document signed between Iran's state gas companies and Turkmenistan will turn Iran into a regional gas transfer hub. No details of the document have been released. Turkmen media reported that Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov proposed implementing joint projects with Iranian companies to increase the volume of gas supply to Iran to 40 billion cubic meters per year. The Turkmen side also reported that the talks in Tehran discussed exporting Turkmen electricity to Iran. Concerning cooperation in the transport sector, Berdimuhamedov urged increasing cargo transportation along the Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran railway route, while the Iranian president proposed increasing cargo flows along the Armenia-Iran-Turkmenistan-Kazakhstan route. Turkmenistan and Iran have agreed to start negotiations for a comprehensive deal on transportation issues. The talks, expected to kick off next month, will be part of an intergovernmental committee chaired by Iran’s transportation minister.

Central Asia Turkmenistan Turkmenistan International Affairs International Affairs Turkmenistan Business & Economy Business & Economy

Turkmenistan Surpasses Russia in Gas Exports to China

Turkmenistan now ranks ahead of Russia in terms of revenue from gas supplies to China. It is being reported that the country became the largest gas supplier to China in the first half of 2024, exporting gas worth $5.67 billion. Russia is now in second place with a trade of $4.69 billion. At the same time, the chairman of the Halk Maslahaty (People’s Council) of Turkmenistan, the former president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, said during his recent visit to Iran that Turkmenistan plans to increase the volume of gas supplies to Iran to 40 billion cubic meters per year. Two gas compressor stations and a 125-kilometer-long gas pipeline are being planned in Turkmenistan. This will allow Iran to supply additional volumes to the “Çaloýuk” gas measuring station. In addition, Turkmen gas will soon be exported to Iraq and Turkey under the SWAP scheme. Although many countries are interested in Turkmenistan’s gas, the nation still struggles to organize an adequate supply to the domestic market.

International Affairs Environment Uzbekistan Environment Central Asia Kazakhstan Environment Home Tajikistan International Affairs Kyrgyzstan Environment Uzbekistan Turkmenistan Turkmenistan International Affairs Uzbekistan Features Tajikistan Kyrgyzstan International Affairs Kyrgyzstan Business & Economy Kazakhstan Kazakhstan International Affairs Tajikistan Features Turkmenistan Features Features Turkmenistan Environment Tajikistan Environment Uzbekistan International Affairs Kazakhstan Featurees Kyrgyzstan Features

Ecological Limit: Five Year Countdown to Water Scarcity in Central Asia

Combating climate change requires collective action by all or a sufficient majority of the world's players supporting global initiatives. Otherwise, it may soon be too late to take any action. To address the issue, the Eurasian Development Bank, the CAREC Think Tank, and the Asian Development Bank organized a two-day forum entitled “The Climate Challenge: Thinking Beyond Borders for Collective Action,” in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Focusing on means of achieving genuine regional cooperation on Asian climate action, the eighth CAREC Think Tank Development Forum was attended by policymakers, experts, and opinion leaders from more than 30 countries. The extensive two-day dialog, consisting of eight sessions, opened with a discussion on the effectiveness of current global initiatives related to climate change: the Paris Agreement, the Global Environment Facility, and the Green Climate Fund. Attention then turned to deepening cooperation among as many stakeholders as possible through multilateral platforms such as the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. Asia's role in the global fight against climate change, and the difficult balancing act between economic growth and decarbonization efforts were discussed at length. Simply put, the rapid growth of the Asian economy is inevitably accompanied by an increasing consumption of energy, the generation of which leads to increased emissions and pollution. Climate damage due to human impact can be halted and even reversed. However, because this can only be achieved with technological intervention, it poses problems for developing economies unable to afford advanced technologies. Hence, establishing a framework and mechanisms for global technology transfer were key to discussions. Water and finance were also high on the agenda and the subject of a paper presented by Arman Ahunbaev, Head of the Center for Infrastructure and Industrial Research of the Eurasian Development Bank on “Ways to close the investment gap in the drinking water supply and wastewater sector in Central Asia." Ahunbaev reported that 10 million people, or 14% of the population in Central Asia, do not have access to safe drinking water and warned that without intervention, the situation would reach the point of no return in the coming years. To prevent this from happening, he stressed the urgent need for solutions to four problems. The first problem is a twofold increase in the volume of water intake for municipal and domestic needs, based on past figures which showed a growth from 4.2 cubic kilometers in 1994 to 8.6 cubic kilometers in 2020. The second problem is the severe deterioration of water supply infrastructure and treatment equipment, and the third, technological and commercial water losses in distribution networks. The fourth problem is related to the demographic boom and, consequently, the rapid urbanization of Central Asia's population. Cities are expanding and their infrastructure needs to develop accordingly. According to experts, in 2023, urbanization in Central Asian countries will reach 49%, and by 2050, 61%. By 2030, the urban population will exceed that in rural areas. Ahunbaev noted the need for improvement in financing the water supply and sanitation sector in Central Asia since according to rough...

Central Asia Turkmenistan Life & Culture Turkmenistan Turkmenistan International Affairs Life & Culture International Affairs Turkmenistan Business & Economy Business & Economy

Ashgabat Promotes Turkmen and Iranian Fashion and Textiles

A Turkmen-Iranian exhibition showcasing the two countries' fashion and textile industries has newly opened at the Turkmenistan Academy of Arts. Speaking at the event, Navid Rasouli, Cultural Counselor at the Iranian Embassy in Ashgabat, announced, “The fashion industry is rapidly developing and knows no stagnation as new generations always need updated clothes and stylish images. Iran and Turkmenistan have an opportunity to establish close cooperation in this field. The first joint fashion show and professional skills training can become a basis for demonstrating the international capabilities of both countries and contribute to the expansion of economic ties." Textile companies and famous brands represented in the exhibition, include seven from Iran alongside the Ashgabat Model House of the Ministry of Textile Industry and several other enterprises from Turkmenistan. Comprehensive in its remit, the event brings together designers, embroiderers, needle workers, and weavers allowing visitors to discover a wide range of fabrics, fashion and accessories currently being created with traditional and modern techniques in both countries. In addition to providing information on courses, the exhibition also offers visitors classes on various types of needlework by Iranian master craftspeople.

Central Asia Turkmenistan International Affairs Turkmenistan International Affairs Turkmenistan Business & Economy Business & Economy

Turkmenistan and Tatarstan Discuss Trade and Debt Issues

On August 27, at a meeting of the Turkmenistan-Tatarstan joint working group on trade-economic, scientific-technical, and cultural cooperation in Kazan (Republic of Tatarstan, Russian Federation), it was announced that Turkmenistan and Tatarstan's 's trade turnover has increased by 13.4%, amounting to $52.3 million, largely due to the import of products to Turkmenistan. However, the Turkmen Minister of Finance and Economy, Serdar Joraev, stated that this is still two times lower than 2019's numbers. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade of Tatarstan, Oleg Korobchenko confirmed the overall decline in trade turnover, with both parties calling for a joint solution. During the meeting, the participants discussed Turkmenistan's debt, which arose due to problems with inter-bank settlements. Whilst both parties stated that this issue is under control and being resolved with the participation of the Central Banks of Turkmenistan and Russia, the total amount of debt remains unreported. Tatarstan companies in the fields of mechanical engineering and oil refining supply equipment and goods in Turkmenistan. In 2020, 852 Kamaz trucks, the second high-speed A145E marine motor ship, and more than $8 million worth of medicines and medical supplies were delivered to Turkmenistan from Tatarstan.