Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, National Leader of the Turkmen people and chairman of Turkmenistan’s Halk Maslahaty, held a phone call with German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. The Watan news programme reported the conversation.
Berdymukhamedov said Turkmenistan attaches importance to developing cooperation with Germany and noted that nearly 100 bilateral documents form the legal basis of relations. He thanked the German side for its consistent support for Turkmenistan’s neutrality and international initiatives.
The chairman of the Halk Maslahaty expressed confidence that Steinmeier would attend an international forum planned for Ashgabat on December 12 this year.
The two discussed the current state of bilateral trade and economic cooperation and prospects for its development. They noted that trade turnover has increased year by year and highlighted the work of the joint Turkmen-German working group, the German Eastern Business Association and the German-Turkmen Forum.
Berdymukhamedov named the chemical industry, transport, agriculture, healthcare and textiles as promising areas for cooperation. He proposed establishing regular ties with German companies active in these sectors, including BASF, MAN, Deutsche Bahn and ThyssenKrupp, and said cooperation with Siemens and Knauf should continue.
The sides identified the green economy, renewable energy, water management and innovative technologies as new areas of cooperation. Berdymukhamedov said Turkmenistan was pursuing rapid industrialisation and noted the use of Siemens turbines in the gas sector.
He also confirmed Turkmenistan’s interest in working with Thyssen Schachtbau GmbH and Schachtbau Nordhausen GmbH to develop the Garlyk potash mining complex, the only producer of potash mineral fertiliser in Central Asia. In the chemical industry, Turkmenistan is interested in applying BASF’s experience.
