OREANDA-NEWS. February 4, 2008. A delegation led by World Bank Regional Vice President Shigeo Katsu visited Turkmenistan. The delegation consisted of Director of Regional Operations, Europe and Central Asia Region Ms. Annette Dixon, Regional Representative of the International Financial Corporation Mr. Gorton de Mond, World Bank Programme Coordinator in Central Asia Ms. Mehrnaz Teymourian and a group of the World Bank experts.

The visit was aimed at discussing the co-operation strategy in the context of the social and economic reforms implemented throughout Turkmenistan and the plans of the Government of Turkmenistan to improve the living conditions in rural areas.

The World Bank delegation had the meeting at the national ministries and departments of Turkmenistan. The meeting organised with assistance of the Central Bank of Turkmenistan brought together over 70 participants, who discussed the priority trends of further development of fruitful co-operation maintained over the period and specified the plans of joint activities. The participants exchanged views on the aims and nature of the reforms initiated in all sectors of Turkmen economy. The guests made presentations on the World Bank’s activities in the countries with transition economy and the sphere of social development.

The participants considered improvement of the healthcare and education infrastructure, institutional reforms, co-operation in the fuel and energy sector, the spheres of trade, transport and communications, agriculture, environment protection the possible fields of further co-operation.

The issues were discussed in details during the meeting the representatives of the World Bank had with the Government of Turkmenistan, the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Central Bank of Turkmenistan.