On 7 February, 2020 President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov held an extended session of the Cabinet of Ministers to sum up the government performance for 2019. Based on the results of the meeting, there have been major ministerial reshuffle.
Deputy Prime Minister overseeing economy and finance Gochmyrat Myradov was transferred to another position. Gadyrgeldy Mushshikov, who had previously been Chairperson of the Supreme Control Chamber, was appointed a new Deputy Chairperson of the Cabinet of Minister. Mushshikov will also supervise Dashoguz velayat.
Appointing the new Deputy Prime Minister, Berdymukhammedov charged him with the task of “reducing the dependence of the domestic market on export goods as well as addressing “labour market issues”. The word “unemployment” was not used.
Minister of Economy and Finance Batyr Bazarov was transferred to another position whereas Ezizgeldi Annamukhammedov, Bazarov’s former deputy, was appointed the Minister.
Ex khyakim of Ashgabat Shamukhammet Durdylyev was appointed Deputy Prime Minister overseeing construction and manufacturing to be in charge of construction, industry, construction materials, energy, the state holding “Turkmenchemistry” and the city of Ashgabat.
Minister of Construction and Architecture Soyenchnazar Selimov was dismissed and Rakhim Gandymov, who had previously occupied the post of the deputy minister, was appointed as his replacement.
Minister of Industry and Communications Takhiberdy Durkhanov was transferred to the position of the head of the department of the Cabinet of Minister due to the abolishment of the ministry.
Instead of the Ministry of Industry and Communications, the Ministry of Industry and Construction was set up, which is headed by the President’s son Serdar Berdymukhammedov.
Serdar has been charged with the task of increasing the volumes of the construction materials production for the construction sites in Turkmenistan as well as revamping and modernizing the existing and building new manufacturing facilities.
It should be emphasized that in mid 2019 Turkmenistan experienced a shortage of domestically-produced cement, which led to a reprimand issued to Deputy Prime Minister Bairamgeldi Ovezov in November, 2019.
Deputy Prime Minister overseeing construction, energy and public utilities Charymyrat Purchekov was transferred to the position of the Minister of Energy. According to Berdymukhammedov, Purchekov’s experience and outstanding organizational skills will contribute to the development of the energy sector, which is of significance for the country.
The production association “Turkmen carpet” under the Ministry of Textile Industry was renamed into the state association “Turkmen carpet” and was transferred to the jurisdiction of the Cabinet of Ministers.
The association will be headed by Ogulkhadzhat Ishanguliev, who has previously held the position of the Deputy Minister of Textile Industry.
“Turkmen carpet” and the Ministry of Textile Industry will be overseen by Chary Gylydzhov, Deputy Prime Minister responsible for trade. It appears that this will be followed by the attempt to boost the export of Turkmen carpets.