OREANDA-NEWS. July 17, 2009. President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov received Koen Minne, CEO of the renowned Belgian company – ENEX process engineering SA in Turkmenbashi town on the Caspian Sea coast.

Thanking for the opportunity to a personal meeting the businessman congratulated the Turkmen leader on putting the Turkmen Lake Altyn Asyr – the grandiose hydraulic facility of exceptional importance for the country and the Central Asian region as well. The guest said that implementation of this large-scale project as well as the project on creation of Avaza national tourism zone vividly evidenced the profound economic and natural potential of the country, its aspiration for the future. Koen Minne emphasized that advancing resolutely along the path of progressive reforms and demonstrating rapid social and economic progress Turkmenistan aroused keen interest among the European business circles that sought to strengthen long-term relationship with the dynamically developing Turkmen state.

Focusing on Turkmenistan’s adherence to the policy of wide international cooperation Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted that this principle was a major aspect of the reform programmes implemented in the country that opened up new opportunities to establish new contacts.

During the meeting the sides discussed the progress in implementing the projects by ENEX in Turkmenistan, exchanged views on the prospects for cooperation in such sectors as processing and chemical industries, telecommunication, application of energy-saving technologies, in particular the use of the solar and wind energy.

The focus of the talks was the opportunities to cooperate in the fuel and energy sector. In this regard Mr. Koen Minne informed of intense interest of the EU member countries in purchasing Turkmen natural gas and presented the relevant proposals of the European Commission. The businessmen said that having gained the status of a world’s energy producer Turkmenistan was viewed in Europe as a very dependable and responsible partner whose approaches to cooperation addressed global energy security challenges.

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said that having the profound energy potential Turkmenistan stood steadfast to its commitments to diversify transit of energy to international markets and emphasized that the existing resources made implementation of any projects in this field possible. Turkmenistan stood ready for mutually advantageous cooperation with the strategic partners including the EU member countries in compliance with the national energy policy.

In this context the President and his guest discussed the specific aspects and ways to concert efforts in this important field on a basis on mutual interests and the current situation on global energy market.

In conclusion the CEO of the ENEX Company assured the Turkmen leader that the company was proud of cooperation with Turkmenistan and would meet its partnership commitments.