PRIORITIES OF COOPERATION BETWEEN TURKMENISTAN AND ASTRAKHAN REGION, RUSSIA ARE DISCUSSED

Meeting of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Turkmenistan to Russian Federation Batyr Niyazliyev with Governor of Astrakhan Region Igor Babushkin was held on September 18.

In the beginning of the talks, the head of the region expressed gratitude to the President of Turkmenistan for the decision to send humanitarian aid to Astrakhan Region in the peak of coronavirus pandemic. Igor Babushkin highlighted that this gesture of goodwill was a demonstration of traditions of good neighbourliness and friendship, which connect Turkmenistan and Astrakhan Region, Russia.

High appraisal has been given during the meeting to the dynamics of trade and economic partnership between Turkmenistan and Astrakhan Region. It was noted that mutual trade from the beginning of the years was 6.9 million US dollars.

According to Governor I. Babushkin, there are good opportunities for diversification of the partnership. In particular, Astrakhan Region is willing to arrange big supplies of agricultural and fishing production to Turkmenistan. In its turn, the region is interested in Turkmen textile, cotton fibre and polypropylene. The Governor hopes to discuss the agenda of economic cooperation during the visit to our country when there will be a chance.

During the talks, the sides have exchanged the views on perspectives of partnership in transport and transit sphere taking into account the decision made by the Governemnt of Russian Federation of establishment of special port economic zone in Astrakhan Region, which is to be one of the largest logistic hubs of the south of Russia. Opportunity to build ships at Astrakhan shipyards for Turkmenistan has also been discussed.

Availability of real opportunities for establishment of the North – South transport and transit corridor across Turkmenistan has been mentioned. Arrangement of cargo and passenger communication by Volga River along Moscow – Astrakhan – Caspian ports of coastal states is one of the elements of this project. The Governor has also highlighted the importance of establishment of direct ferry line between Turkmenistan and Astrakhan Region.

I. Babushkin informed that preparation to the 2nd Caspian Economic Forum in Moscow in 2021 is carried out. Caspian media forum dedicated to ethnographic and cultural communication, which is planned to be held in Astrakhan on October 30, is one of the stages of this work.

The sides have discussed perspectives of cooperation between Turkmenistan and Astrakhan Region, Russian Federation in humanitarian sphere. Magtumguly Secondary school, which has been built in Funtovo village, Volga District, is one of the symbols of successful development of this cooperation.

In the end of the meeting, Governor Igor Babushkin has expressed confidence in successful promotion of multidimensional dialog and conveyed wishes of health, wealth and success in the government activity to President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.