OREANDA-NEWS. April 16, 2010. The third Turkmen-Austrian business forum, which played an important role in promoting Turkmen goods to the European market and getting acquainted with advanced technologies and innovations of the leading European companies, took place in the President Hotel on the eve of the Days of Culture the City of Vienna in Turkmenistan. The forum was organized by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan and the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber with the active assistance of the Austrian-Turkmen Society. 

The Austrian delegation consisting of the heads and regional managers of the large companies and banks arrived in the Turkmen capital to take part in the forum. Turkmenistan was represented by the specialists of the ministries and sectoral departments and the Union of Manufacturers and Entrepreneurs.

The forum participants discussed the current conditions and prospects for developing Turkmen-Austrian economic cooperation, which had been launched during the official visit of President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to Austria in autumn 2008. The ongoing economic reforms and the social and economic programmes in Turkmenistan offer the powerful incentives to strengthen and intensify bilateral relations between the two friendly countries.

In his opening remarks the head of the Austrian delegation, Regional Director of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, Heinz Walter underscored the significant importance of the forum in fostering the progressive and dynamic development of Turkmenistan and increasing its rating as the most attractive country for investments. Emphasis was put on the role of the forum in enhancing bilateral relations as well as intensifying the Turkmenistan-EU dialogue. Also, the guest said that the interest in Turkmenistan which consistently pursued the policy of peace, constructive endevours and social progress had increased significantly all over the world.

The representatives of the Austrian companies including Agro Solution, Bertsch-Laska Productions und Handels, Golden Age, Unger Stahlbau, MBM, ONAG Industrie- und Finanzholding Aktiengesellschaft, Kubermed and others expressed keen interest in establishing bilateral business contacts. It was noted that 12 economic entities with the Austrian capital share operated in Turkmenistan, and 21 investment projects had been registered to date. The forum participants noted however that the current volume of trade did not meet the profound potential of trade and economic partnership between Turkmenistan and Austria.

The forum participants called for diversifying cooperation built on mutual benefit and developing partnership in chemical, motor, pharmaceutical and maritime industries, agriculture, information technology, machine-building, construction, construction, production of construction materials and mineral fertilizers.

A focus of discussion was cooperation in tourism industry which had great prospects in Turkmenistan due to the project of the Avaza national tourism zone. The reports put emphasis on the favourable investment climate in Turkmenistan. The Austrian guests and the specialists of the Turkmen ministries and departments discussed the specific fields of cooperation in various sectors of economy during the bilateral meetings.