OREANDA-NEWS. On 20 August 2008 was announced, that President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov chaired the enlarged sitting of the Cabinet of Ministers. The agenda focused on the social and economic achievements in seven months of the current year and the priority issues of the national policy.

Vice Premier H. Geldimuradov reported on the results of the country’s social and economic development in January-July. The Vice Premier reported that the growth rates of GDP made up 107.5 percent. Within seven months of the current year the total output made up 115 trillion manats, or increased by 21.6 percent as compared to 2007.

In the first half year the volume of export increased by 40.8 percent. H. Geldimuradov reported that the foreign trade turnover increased by 35 percent as compared to 2007. Within the first six months the main investments doubled as compared to the same period of 2007. The volume of foreign investments rose 4.2 times.

In January-July the State Budget was implemented up to 110 percent in revenues and 98 percent – in expenditures. Thus, the growth of revenues made up 169 percent and the growth of expenditures – 150 percent as compared to the same period of 2007. The Vice Premier reported that salaries, scholarships and pensions were paid timely. The arrearage of these payments had not been accumulated. In January-July the average salary increased by 15.1 percent as compared to 2007.

In the first half year the centralized investment programme was executed by 28.1 percent. As compared to the same period of 2007 the disbursement of centralized investments rose over 2.1 times.

Commenting on the report Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted that the results achieved in January-July testified to sustainable, dynamic development of national economy with the steady growth rates. In its turn, it evidenced correctness and appropriateness of the chosen course of the reforms. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said that the high pace of the fulfillment of the designated tasks with the utmost once – the welfare and prosperity of the Turkmen people should be maintained.

Speaker of the Mejlis A. Nurberdieva reported on the work of Turkmen Parliament on further development of the national legislation in the framework of the constitutional reform as well.

A. Nurberdieva informed that the draft Constitution opened for public discussion had aroused profound interest and drawn active response in the society. Based on the proposals and suggestions put forward at the recent sitting of the Cabinet of Ministers the considerable work to study and analyze the suggestions submitted to the Constitutional Commission and to incorporate them into the text of the basic law had been carried out. The laws on the amendments and additions to the relevant laws of Turkmenistan were drafted. The work on the draft Labour Code had been completed.

A. Nurberdieva reported on the preparations of the documentary database of special Halk Maslakhaty carried out by the Mejlis with assistance of the Office of the President’s Affairs.

Commenting on the report and focusing on the paramount importance of the work on drafting the text of the Constitution of Turkmenistan the President demanded that the proposals submitted would be thoroughly studied, analyzed and incorporated into the new text of the basic law of Turkmenistan by September 10. The draft Constitution would be presented for consideration at special XXI Halk Maslakhaty.

Chairman of Halk Maslakhaty, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov issued the Resolution “On the Convocation of special XXI Halk Maslakhaty” on September 26, 2008 and approved the agenda of the forum.

Noting the increased interest of the international community in establishing long-term reliable co-operation with Turkmenistan Vice Premier, Minister of Foreign Affairs R. Meredov reported on the coming visits of the heads of the foreign states and the representative delegations from different countries to Ashgabat. In particular, in August King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein and Chairman of the People’s Republic of China Hu Jintao would visit Turkmenistan. On these days Ashgabat would host an industrial exhibition of the Russian Federation and a regular sitting of the bilateral TURKMEN-Russian commission.

Focusing on the significance of the coming top level talks Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov highly appreciated the intensified dialogue with Jordan as well as dynamically developed strategic partnership with China. Touching upon the goals of Turkmenistan’s foreign policy doctrine in whole that had been filled with the new content and recognized on the world arena the Turkmen leader set the important tasks to enhance the work on the information support of the national policy. This critical trend of the foreign policy strategy was aimed at creating the true and fair view of the ongoing changes in Turkmenistan and the processes of advancing towards democratization and progress.

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov called for elaborating the approach to these tasks on the comprehensive, systematized basis. These included the special information network covering all the government bodies, first of all the MFA and the embassies in the foreign countries and the more effective and task-oriented use of the internet resources. The President emphasized that this work should become a determinant factor for creating Turkmenistan’s image in the world information environment that was the norm of the modern civilized process.

Touching upon the tragic events in South Ossetia which had caused numerous civilian casualties the President expressed Turkmenistan’s view on the settlement of the conflict with the peaceful, diplomatic means and methods.

Vice Premier H. Saparliev reported on the preparations for the new academic year. The Vice Premier reported on the measures to strength the material and technical basis of the institutions of secondary and higher education, computerize schools, provide an access to the internet.

Reporting on the campaign of admitting to the institutions of higher education the Vice Premier informed that 4,000 first-year students had been admitted. Hundreds of the boys and girls from Turkmenistan would study at the higher schools abroad. 1,716 young people would study at the vocational schools this year.

The campaign of admitting to the post-graduate course had been completed; the applicants for the candidate's degree had been selected. The Vice Premier reported on the preparations for the large international forums – The Epoch of New Revival and Ancient History of Dehistan and Nadjmeddin Kubra and Cultural and Spiritual World of the East, which would be held in Ashgabat in late August and early September.

Commenting on the report Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov touched upon the celebrations of Knowledge Day and Students’ Day as a symbol of Turkmenistan’s new education reform. The President informed that 9 schools, of them two in Ashgabat equipped with interactive technologies and computer equipment would be put into operation by September 1. By the end of this year 10 schools would have been put into operation throughout Turkmenistan. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said that the Government would keep attaching paramount importance to the sphere of education and heavily invest in the education system.

Vice Premier M. Yazmuhammedova reported on the work done in the sphere of culture and mass media. The Vice premier reported on the measures taken to strengthen the material and technical basis of the libraries museums, to reconstruct and construct a number of the social and cultural facilities, to develop publishing industry and mass media.

The Vice Premier reported on the preparations for the 17th anniversary of Turkmenistan Independence.

Focusing on the significance of the coming national holiday Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov informed that 60 newly-constructed buildings would be put into operation on the eve of the celebrations including large-scale enterprises, apartment houses, social and cultural facilities. Esenguly Etrap would have been improved and an urban settlement would be opened in Ruhubelent Etrap by the nationwide celebrations

Putting emphasis on the significance of the date the President demanded that the celebrations would be arranged throughout the country and held at the high level of organisation.

Vice Premier T. Tagiev reported on the state of affairs in fuel and energy complex. The Vice Premier focused on the specific measures taken to increase oil and gas production and processing, to strengthen the raw materials base of the sector including such trends as expansion of drilling operations and exploration work, accelerated commercial development of the prospective areas and modernization of the production infrastructure of the oil and gas deposits.

The Vice Premier reported on the progress of construction of the Turkmenistan-China gas pipeline and development of the deposits on the right bank of the Amu Darya River. T. Tagiev reported that the works in collaboration with the Chinese partners on the Bgtyyarlyk area were carried out in accordance with schedule

The Vice Premier presented the draft Law of Turkmenistan “On Hydrocarbon Resources” to the President for consideration.

Commenting on the report Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted that the draft law reflected the universally recognized norms of international law, defined the rights and economic status of the State Agency for Hydrocarbon Resources Management and Use, set forth the customs and tax policies and the benefits provided to national and foreign investors and companies, determined the environmental responsibility when developing hydrocarbon resources.

Vice Premier H. Muhammedov reported on the state of affairs in textile industry, carpet making, trade and entrepreneurial sphere and the work of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce and Industry and the Commodities and Raw Materials Exchange.

Stating with satisfaction the dynamic development of trade and service industry Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov focused on the task to ensure the plenty of food products in the country, in particular construction of the poultry farms throughout the country. The President instructed the relevant high-ranking officials to strictly control the fulfillment of this task.

Vice Premier M. Akmammedov reported on the progress of the seasonal agricultural focusing on the preparations for the winter crop sowing and cotton picking campaigns. In particular, agricultural machines had been prepared, defoliants had been purchased, fodder was stored for livestock.

The velayat khyakims reported on the work done in the period and the preparations for the winter crop sowing and cotton picking campaigns. Emphasis was put on the social projects, in particular construction of schools, apartment houses, kindergartens, stadiums and other social and cultural facilities in rural areas, improvement and development of the relevant infrastructure in the newly established administrative districts.

Commenting on the reports Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov demanded that the high pace of the activity of paramount importance for implementing the social and economic reforms, guaranteeing the plenty of food products and increasing the living standards would be maintained. The President said that observance of the period of construction should be an invariable requirement and demanded that the mechanisms of monitoring the quality of construction works and the period of construction should be elaborated.

Touching upon the social aspects of the economic reforms the President forbade using the labour of children during the agricultural campaigns and gave the relevant instructions to the law enforcement high-ranking officials.

Chairman of the Supreme Chamber of Inspection T. Japarov reported on the results of the inspection of the financial and economic activity of the Turkmenhimiya State Concern and the Turkmenhaly State Joint Stock Company. The inspection had revealed the shortcomings that resulted in decreasing the rates of fertilizers production and were caused by depreciation of plants.

Despite the rise in production the tendency of decreasing the volume of export by half had been revealed in the structure of the Turkmenhaly State JSC. To a larger extent the situation had been conditioned by the lack of specialty stores and carpet shops abroad, sales of carpets mainly inside the country, the considerable difference in the prices for carpet articles at the Turkmenhaly JSC stores and the market prices.

The Chairman of the Supreme Chamber of Inspection reported on the results of the inspection of the important construction sites in Ashgabat. The inspection had revealed the arrears of work.

Commenting on the report Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov focused on the necessity of reconstructing and constructing a number of the important facilities that would meet the increased needs of various sectors of national economy in high-quality products to replace the imported goods of great demand in the country and thus, to save the considerable funds, In particular, the President instructed the relevant high-ranking officials to draft the project on reconstruction of Maryazot and the chemicals plant in Turkmenabat and study the opportunities of constructing new plants producing fertilizers.

The Turkmen leader instructed the high-ranking officials of the Turkmenhaly State JSC and the relevant Vice Premier to elaborate the flexible marketing mechanisms and to define the role of the state in the development of this sector.

Vice Premier N. Shaguliev reported on the state of affairs in the sectors and the preparations for the Basic Trends of Development of Turkmenistan’s Power Industry International Exhibition and Conference.

Putting emphasis on the significance of such international forums involving numerous foreign partners the Turkmen leader said that they should facilitate the economic, social and cultural advance of the country, which relied on latest technologies and scientific and technical advances.

During the sitting the President appointed the high-ranking officials.

Upon concluding the sitting Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov focused on the paramount importance of the designated tasks, which were to guarantee the country’s advance along the path of progressive reforms and wished all those present new labour achievements.