OREANDA-NEWS.  August 14, 2014. President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov chaired an enlarged meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, during which the work done in the sectors of the national economy in January-July of the current year and other important policy issues and drafts of important documents were considered.

Before the meeting that was attended by the heads of a number of ministries and departments, the President noted that our country will celebrate the Turkmen Melon Day on the second Sunday of August, following the tradition.

The Vice Premiers presented the reports. They reported on the results of the economic development of Turkmenistan in January-July of the current year. The macroeconomic indicators in the reporting period testify to steady GDP growth. GDP growth rate made 110.3 percent as compared to the same period in 2013. High performance results were achieved in nearly all the sectors of the national economy in the reporting period. The production growth rate made 113.5 percent.

The growth rate of retail trade in January-July of 2014 increased by 18 percent as compared to the same period in 2013. Foreign trade increased in the reporting period. This indicator made 108.8 percent as compared to the same period in 2013.

It was also reported that the pace of construction of industrial, social and cultural facilities was high in the reporting period. In January-July, the growth rate of the volume of investment used from all the sources of funding made 108.2 percent as compared to the same period in 2013. The ratio of this macroeconomic indicator to GDP is 45.5 percent.

The report focused on the work done to achieve the objectives of the National Programme of the President of Turkmenistan on the improvement of social and living conditions in villages, settlements, towns in etraps and etrap centres for the period up to 2020. Under the programme, 437 social facilities, 484,000 square meters of floor space and infrastructure facilities (roads, gas and water pipelines, power transmission lines) were built. The volume of used investment increased by 29 percent as compared to the same period in 2013.

It was noted that in January-July the revenues of the State budget amounted to 117.7 percent and the expenditures - 97.1 percent. It was reported that wages, pensions, state allowances and scholarships were paid off in a proper and timely manner in the reporting period. The average monthly wage rate at large- and medium-sized institutions made 110.7 percent as compared to the same period in 2013.

The reports focused on the increase in production of natural and associated gas. The growth rate of production of gasoline made 102 percent, diesel fuel - 101 percent, polypropylene - 105.5 percent, lubricants - 112.7 percent and liquefied gas - 105.2 percent.

It is planned to admit 6,861 people to higher educational institutions, secondary vocational schools - 7,716 people this year. Currently, entrance exams are being conducted at higher educational institutions, to which 25,182 entrants have submitted applications. According to the Ministry of Construction and Architecture, the production plan in January-July was performed to 168.2 percent and the growth rate made 117.3 percent as compared to the same period in 2013.

According to the Ministry of Energy, the growth rate of production and performance of works and services in January-July made 110.8 percent that ensured the implementation of the sectoral performance plan by 114.3 percent. The growth rate of electricity production and export to foreign countries made 112 percent and 104 percent respectively. A total of 2,357 kilometres of power transmission lines were built throughout the country in the reporting period.

The plan of production and performance of works and services of Turkmenavtoyollary State Concern was implemented to 140.1 percent in the reporting period, the growth rate rose to 138.6 percent. The total length of roads built in the country was 304.2 kilometres.

The implementation of the plan of production and performance of works and services of the Ministry of Municipal Engineering and the growth rate made 122.8 percent that exceeds the economic indicators for the same period in 2013.

Addressing the meeting participants, the President noted that the measures were taken under the programmes aimed at accelerating economic growth to turn our independent Motherland into an industrialized country. The President noted that the construction projects of a new large-scale enterprise - the carbamide plant in Garabogaz in Balkan Velayat and the plant processing of natural gas and producing gasoline in Ahal Velayat would be launched to fulfil the designated tasks.

Other issues were considered, the decisions were taken and a number of important documents were signed during the government meeting.