Turkmen capital hosted the 17th Ministerial Conference of the Central Asian Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Programme.High-rank representatives of the countries of the CAREC Programme as well as Asian Development Bank, the World Bank, Islamic Development Bank, CAREC Institute, European Union, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, International Monetary Fund, the UN Development Programme took part in the session in Yildyz Hotel.
Turkmen delegation chaired by the Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers supervising financial and economic sector included the members of the Government, heads and specialists of relative ministries and departments.
President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov addressed the greeting to the delegates of the forum “CAREC 2030: Building of Trade and Support of Diversification”.The Head of the State noted that our country chairing the CAREC this year comprehensively supports its fundamental principles and projects developing active cooperation in such directions as energy, trade, custom regulation, transport, tourism, formation of economic corridors and human development.
It is remarkable that current conference of the CAREC is held in the year under slogan “Turkmenistan the Heart of the Great Silk Road” and it gave special tone to the work of international forum.
The book of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov with the same name, which revealed the importance of legendary trade route that effected the establishment of economic, political and cultural relations on huge Eurasian space, is dedicated to the collaboration of the nations along historical route connecting eastern and western countries in the past.
In this context, the expansion of trade relations gains special importance, which is reflected in the name of the 17th Ministerial Conference of the CAREC Programme.The trade plays significant role in the economy of any state and regional cooperation being one of the directions of the integration, which supports the diversification of the economies of the countries and the achievement of the SDGs.
There are huge potential in this sphere for activation of the partnership in Central Asia, which will be supported by elimination of administration barriers, rapprochement of regulatory framework as a condition for provision of favourable investment climate and creation of opportunity for business.
In addition, Turkmenistan actively participates in planning and implementation of transport projects under the CAREC Programme.Crossing our state, number of the CAREC corridors provide the entry to the west via Azerbaijan to Turkey and Europe, to the east to the PRC, to the north to Kazakhstan and Russian Federation and to the south to the ports of Karachi and Gwadar in the Arabian Sea.
Growth of transport potential of the region and formation of ramified transport infrastructure will allow our countries successfully integrating to international relations, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, who initiated number of big projects of regional significance in transport sphere, notes.
Construction of Turkmenistan Afghanistan Pakistan India gas pipeline, which, havgn considerably improved export capabilities of our country, would support the strengthening of energy security and economic stability of the states in the region and would become solid foundation for the achievement of the SDGs in entire region, is very important for the member states of the CAREC.
Construction of power and fibre optic lines along the TAPI can also be added there.
Asian Development Bank makes great contribution to development of regional cooperation and promotion of the partnership for reduction of poverty through the achievement of comprehensive economic and ecological stable growth in the state members of the CAREC.
Carrying out big work for coordination of social and economic policy of developing countries and providing technical support, the ABR steadily implements strategic goals of universal peace and development, which has been outlined by the UN.
Speaking at the conference and forestalling coming discussions, President of the ADB Takehiko Nakao said that there are all conditions for expansion of regional trade and diversification of export of the CAREC countries.
He has also mentioned that partnership of the ADB with Turkmenistan in development sphere started in 2000 and is aimed at the support of the efforts of the country in consolidation of its economy and improvement of its regional integration.
Last year, the ADB adopted the first country strategy for Turkmenistan for 2017 2021.This strategy of the partnership is to support the trade of energy carriers, transport logistics and financing of small and medium enterprises.
Financial support to the amount of 125 million US dollars, which was rendered by the ADP to Turkmenistan and was realized in 2011 2017 under the project of creation of North South railway corridors, which in its turn improved transport cooperation with Kazakhstan and Russian Federation, has been recognized to be efficient.
Recently, 500 million US dollars contract has been signed. It is aimed at the improvement of power infrastructure of Turkmenistan for improvement of reliability of power supply and support of electricity trade in the region.
The ADB also supports custom authorities of Turkmenistan in cooperation with custom authorities of other CAREC countries. It provide technical assistance for support of sanitary and phytosanitary measures to support food security and agricultural trade.
Making speech at the forum, President of the ADB Takehiko Nakao told about the meeting with Turkmen leader that took place in the day before and where directions of future cooperation have been discussed.
In particular, such projects as modernization of railway infrastructure in the East West direction, in energy sphere including the supply of Turkmen electricity under Turkmenistan Uzbekistan Tajikistan Afghanistan Pakistan (TUTAP) and Turkmenistan Afghanistan Pakistan India gas pipeline have been discussed.
The Head of the Asian Development Bank outlined general situation in the economy and trade in the CAREC region in figures, having noted that it is improved and according to the ADB forecast, positive dynamics will be continued.
The economies of the CAREC countries responded adequately to external challenges, having demonstrated resilience, mr.Nakao highlighted.He said that consolidation of relations between neighbouring countries and creation of favourable environment for activation of economic cooperation would open new prospects of development of trade in the region.
In its turn, the ADB fortified this mission in its new long-term 2030 Strategy supporting the processes of regional integration.
This year, the ADB plans to grant the means for implementation of the projects in such fields as transport, energy, education, water supply and sanitary, urban construction, trade, risk management of natural disasters and other in the CAREC countries.
We continue supporting the project of Turkmenistan Afghanistan Pakistan India gas pipeline, Takehiko Nakao said.The Head of the ADB stated the progress in realization of 2030 CAREC Strategy adopted at the last year ministerial conference, which prioritize the support of five operational clusters.
It includes the cluster of economic and financial stability, on which the first CAREC High-level Forum on Macroeconomic Policy has been organized in Astana in May 2018.CAREC Integrated Trade Agenda 2030 has been developed in trade, tourism and economic corridors cluster.
This programme was brought out for adoption at current forum.
Mr Nakao explained that this Agenda would help the countries to expand the trade by more open trade policy, elimination of the barriers and facilitation of the procedures. It is also to improve economic diversification including the trade of services and electronic commerce.
The works has also started in tourism sector, to which Turkmen leader pays special attention in the aspect of improvement of regional and international relations. The support of the CAREC in this case includes the standardization and strengthening of statistic system, development of web portal for informational promotion of tourism and training of personnel of the sphere.
In infrastructure and economic relations cluster, the CAREC intensifies its activity in energy and transport sectors including in implementation of new energy technologies including solar energy as well as cooperation in aviation sphere.
In agricultural and water management sector, the ADB supports participating countries in modernization of their sanitary and phytosanitary systems, wholesale markets for support of agricultural trade.In human development cluster, the ADB prepares the study of the opportunities of reginal cooperation in high education and skills development sphere.
This subject is similar with the objectives set by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to national system of personnel training for national economy branches.
Thus, potential spheres of the CAREC support includes the creation of informational system on regional labour market, harmonization of standards and recognition of education qualification as well as tutor and student exchange Programme.
In the end of his speech, Takehiko Nakao shared his impression of the visit to the Museum of Turkmen Carpet in Ashgabat two years ago where he saw wonderful collection.
Amazing opulence of carpet designs, each of them is different from another, reflects the diversity of the country and at the same time, embodies the integrity of Turkmen state.
Turkmen carpets expressively symbolize general identity, which exists on the background of such generous diversity.That feeling if the unity together with the identity present firm foundation for expansion of cooperation and integration on the CAREC space, the Head of Asian Development Bank said.
The signing ceremony of the Agreements, which have been development for this meeting, took place before the start of working session.These are the Agreements on two projects the project of strengthening of national power network of Turkmenistan and the project of connecting of Tajikistan to Central Asian energy system.
Both agreements will be sponsored by the Asian Development Bank.
The work of the conference was continued by the round table discussion on new CAREC Integrated Trade Agenda 2030 proposed for adoption and its three-year rolling strategic action plan for 2018 2020.
Topical information about the implementation of the CAREC 2030 in five operational clusters has been listened during the exchange of the opinions.In addition to the Department Heads of the ADB and the CAREC Secretariat, the heads of profile ministers of the CAREC countries, namely Turkmenistan, the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the Republic of Azerbaijan, the PRC, Georgia, the Republic of Kazakhstan, Mongolia, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Republic of Tajikistan, the Republic of Uzbekistan as well as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kyrgyz Republic to Turkmenistan have made speeches.
It was mentioned that trade cluster is able to make strong impact on economic stability in the region and stimulate its development.This is the trade, which provides the population with goods and services, forms up harmonic production relations and supports both the diversification of certain branches and the economy of the state, region in general and its integration to global economy, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov giving important place to trade relations in foreign policy of the country.
After unanimous approval of 2030 CAREC Integrated Trade Programme and Action Plan until 2020, these strategic documents for further partnership have been declared as approved.
Working session on Diversification of Export for the Growth and Macroeconomic Stability took place in the afternoon. It resulted in the adoption of Joint Declaration of the Ministers of the 17th Ministerial Conference of the CAREC.
In the end of the session, the Head of Turkmen delegation summed up the outcomes of the forum and noted great importance of the results achieved during the conference, which mark new milestone of cooperation.
First of all, this meeting allowed ensuring the stability of the course toward constructive cooperation of the sides, commitment to goodwill, which is distinguished feature of the CAREC Programme playing important role in regional integration on the principles of transparency, equal rights and mutual benefit and that is efficient instrument for successful economic development.
Significance of new regional programme on trade is hard to overprice the market of the countries bordering modern territory of the Silk Road, to which President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov dedicated one of his latest books, is unique by its scale and potential.
Today, we see the restoration of this legendary route by the initiative of the Head of Turkmen state.It brings new epoch to the latest history of Central Asia, which is the most dynamically developing and large by its population region, which is forming up new pole of the main consumer demand and largest cargo flows.
Together with development of transit and trade routes, the next steps in development of partnership between the countries of the region can be made in such directions as creation of new value chains, integration of financial markets and formation of favourable business and investment climate.
In this aspect, the delegates of the conference confirmed the intent to continue using the platform of the CAREC Programme for implementation of beneficial projects of development of infrastructure and trade and using the geography of the CAREC as a factor, which is able to generate large-scale effects and to work for improvement of the competiveness of national economies.
On the same day, the guests of our country the participants of the 17th Ministerial Conference of the CAREC, has visited International Ahalteke Equestrian Complex where they learned about the traditions and modern equestrian art of Turkmenistan, enjoyed excellent horses and the best representatives of this famous breed.
According to the Head of the ADB, as one can see the diversity and unity of the nation and country in Turkmen carpets, the same way excellent ahalteke horse embody the image of rapidly developing Turkmenistan.