OREANDA-NEWS. November 24, 2009. Ashgabat will host the first forum of agricultural producers from the member countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States. Having gained the status of the largest event of 2009 the coming forum will be a new important step to develop the international dialogue aimed at addressing global challenges of the modern world such as food security.

As is known, a new vector of this collaboration was identified by President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, who had put forward the initiative at the informal summit of the heads of the CIS member states in St. Petersburg last June. The Turkmen leader’s constructive proposal aimed at intensifying cooperation in the strategically important agricultural sector, strengthening mutually beneficial economic relations met the active support from the partners in the CIS as well as other countries.

Achievement of food security that is of particular concern to world community was the focus of the 64th session of the UN General Assembly, which was attended by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov as the head of the state elected Vice Chair of the authoritative forum of the planet. The prospects for and priorities of cooperation in common interest were discussed during the meeting between the Turkmen leader and Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations Jacques Diouf, which took place in New York on 24 September 2009.

Focusing on the special significance attached by Turkmenistan to the development of the fruitful dialogue with the UN and its agencies Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov briefed Jacques Diouf on the ongoing social policy and the large-scale reforms launched in the key sectors of the national economy such as agriculture.

Highly evaluating the transformations taking place in Turkmenistan the FAO Director-General welcomed the Turkmen leader’s initiatives aimed at addressing urgent problems the whole mankind was facing, in particular achieving food security, improving food quality as well as ensuring the new quality of life.

A wide range of the issues relating to the urgent problem of the third millennium was put on the agenda of the World Summit on Food Security, which was held in the Italian capital, Rome on November 15-18. The FAO forum brought together over 3000 participants from 180 countries including the delegation of Turkmenistan. The forum participants included about 60 heads of the states and governments, the high-ranking officials of the United Nations and other international organizations.

The report that Turkmenistan presented at the Summit spotlighting the large-scale reforms launched in the country to bring the agro-industry sector at a new qualitative, higher level, increase agricultural output and ensuring the plenty of food products aroused keen interest among he participants of the Roman Forum. Accepting heartily the Turkmen leader’s greetings and official message at the forum FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf said that he was going to visit Turkmenistan.

Having entered a new historical epoch Turkmenistan is considerably contributing to achieving the UN Millennium Development Goals – global peace and security, sustainable social and economic development. This is vividly illustrated by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov’s peacemaking initiatives and concrete projects aimed at fostering economic integration of the Central Asian states and other regions of the Eurasian continent and humanitarian aid provided by our country to the neighbouring countries.

Through launching the progressive reforms in the agricultural sector on the initiative of the national leader Turkmenistan has guaranteed food security and intends to increase the export potential of agricultural industry. There are all requisites and real economic potential to achieve this goal. From ancient times Turkmen farmers till fertile oases and reap abundant harvests. Today, this invaluable experience is enriched through adopting advanced technologies and innovations.

The country takes the measures to increase production of vital food products, improve the quality of life in rural areas and create material incentives for agricultural workers, encourage private business initiatives.

Turkmenistan actively promotes domestically manufactured agricultural products on world markets through participating in the international agricultural economic forums and fairs. Turkmenistan presented the exposition of domestically manufactured agricultural products at XI Russian Agricultural Exhibition Golden Autumn - 2009 this September. The participants of the Exhibition represented 29 countries of the world and 50 regions of Russia. The Food Industry Association and the State Committee for Fishing Industry of Turkmenistan presented the products of meat, dairy, fishing, fat-and-oil, confectionery, brewing, wine and fruit and vegetable processing industries in the specialized pavilion. An important section of Turkmenistan’s exposition included the generous gifts of the Caspian Sea and other water bodies of the country – a wide range of seafoods, fresh, dried, smoked, canned fish.

This exhibition served as a rehearsal for the large-scale agrarian forum, which will be opened in Ashgabat on November 25. The large-scale agricultural exhibition covering all the sectors of agricultural industry will be held in the framework of the forum. The participants will represent the foreign companies – the leading producers of agricultural equipment and machinery. The programme of the international economic forum includes the scientific conference that will be an opportunity to discuss the ways to raise the level of crop yield and increase the effectiveness of agricultural production. The ministers of agriculture of the CIS states will discuss the issues of food security and sustainable development of agricultural industry at a meeting in Ashgabat.

In short, the coming forum is an event of particular importance for the further development of Turkmenistan’s agricultural industry as well as enhancement of international cooperation in the strategic agricultural sector to address the global challenge of food security.