OREANDA-NEWS. May 27, 2009. The first meeting of the Turkmen-German working group in Ashgabat was the first step to enhance fruitful intergovernmental cooperation. The high dynamics of this rapidly developing cooperation is based on the goodwill and long-term positive experience and profound potential of collaboration that is called for by modern realities and mutual interests of the partners.

As was reported the German delegation led by Dr. Karl-Ernst Brauner, Head of the External Economic Policy General Directorate of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Information had arrived in the Turkmen capital to take part in the meeting. The high-ranking officials of the national ministries and departments represented Turkmenistan at the forum.

During the talks held in the very constructive and businesslike atmosphere the partners exchanged views on the current condition and further development of mutually advantageous cooperation and the progress in implementing the bilateral agreements.

Greeting the honorary guests on behalf of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov Vice Premier, Minister of Foreign Affairs R. Meredov emphasized that the meeting was held against the background of substantially intensified partnership based on mutual respect and equality. It was noted that the Turkmen leader’s visit to the FRG last November and a series of the important meetings and talks that had provided the vast opportunities to expand and foster traditional partnership had offered powerful incentives to develop the intergovernmental relations.

High appreciating the dynamics of trade and economic contact that was evidenced by the steady increase in bilateral trade turnover the members of the working group focused on significance of the Agreement on Partnership and Cooperation between Turkmenistan and the European Union ratified by the European Parliament this April that opened up new vistas for partners in Europe and Germany in particular.

Putting emphasis on mutual interest in intensifying long-term collaboration the partners focused on the need to search for new forms and mechanisms for cooperation including such the most effective as regular business forums and presentations of the particular German companies similar to that arranged by world-renowned Siemens in Ashgabat last week.

Focusing on their willingness to intensify partnership maintained by two countries over many years the guests noted that ranking among the world’s leaders in advanced technologies Germany stood ready to offer latest scientific and industrial innovations that Turkmenistan based its endeavours to achieve progress on. In this regard the discussion focused on the opportunities to implement new joint projects in the strategic fields of bilateral cooperation including fuel and energy sector, agriculture, water, food and processing industries, banking sector, transport and telecommunication and education, science, tourism as the priorities of the ongoing national programmes in Turkmenistan. In this context the forum participants highly appreciated the comprehensive master-plan on development of the leading sectors of Turkmen economy which had been drafted by well-known consulting company Goetzpartners at the request of the Government of Turkmenistan.

The representatives of the large German companies expressed the willingness to expand on the Turkmen market and actively collaborate in a number of the concrete projects. In particular, the illustrative examples of successful cooperation included the activities of the large energy company in Europe – RWE AG that Turkmenistan had signed the Memorandum on Long-Term Cooperation this April. To promote the bilateral agreements the partners were planning to sign the Production Sharing Agreement allowing RWE AG to prospect and extract hydrocarbons in 23rd license block in the Turkmen sector of the Caspian Sea. These and other issues were discussed in details during the bilateral talks at the national ministries and departments.

In conclusion Dr. Karl-Ernst Brauner thanked the Turkmen partners for the heartfelt welcome and high level of organisation of the meetings and expressed belief that these business forums would contribute to furthering the long-term successful Turkmen-German dialogue.

The second meeting of the Turkmen-German working group will be held in Berlin, FRG in June 2010.