On December 27, in an interview to online media CentralAsia.news, Yuri Aronsky, an economist, scientist, chairman of the Union of Economists of Turkmenistan (UET), representative of the Coordinating Council of the International Union of Economists, presented an overview of the progressive development of interstate relations between Turkmenistan and the Russian Federation.
Wide development
Since gaining independence, Russia and Turkmenistan have always been distinguished by a productive, strategic level of interstate relations. This practice is supported by the high-profile meetings of the heads of the states Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Vladimir Putin. In total, more than 170 agreements have been signed between Russia and Turkmenistan. They cover various spheres of interaction. And in recent years, despite the global crisis caused by the pandemic, the interaction between the countries in the economy, security and other areas has grown significantly.
This thesis can be best illustrated with figures and concrete facts. So, since the beginning of the year, the volume of exports of Turkmen products to Russia in 2021 has grown by 92% compared to 2020 and amounted to almost 680 million dollars.
It should be noted that today, within the trade with Russia, the trade surplus of Turkmenistan is more than 270 million dollars, and in general, the trade turnover has approached 1 billion dollars.
From fuel and energy complex to agro-industrial complex
Traditionally, a significant part of the volume in the Turkmen-Russian trade turnover is occupied by the fuel and energy sector. But other sectors of the economy also successfully cooperate in the external market. Thus, the volume of supplies of Turkmen textile products and various building materials to Russia is very significant.
The growth of exports of fruits and vegetables from Turkmenistan to Russia should be especially noted . Using its competitive advantages, climatic conditions, low domestic prices for gas and electricity, Turkmenistan sent more than 32 thousand greenhouse tomatoes and, thus, took the fourth place in the supply of these vegetables to Russia for 8 months of this year.
In general, today Russian business is represented in Turkmenistan by more than two hundred companies that supply machinery, equipment, transport, chemical products, food, metal products, agricultural raw materials, pulp and paper products, and timber.
Transport lines from Vozrozhdenie
Russian business is also successfully operating in the construction sector of Turkmenistan. One of the long-standing partners of our country is Vozrozhdenie JSC, which has been taking part in the implementation of large-scale projects for the development of the road transport infrastructure of Turkmenistan for 12 years. This year alone, the company built and commissioned the road, the main square and the parade square in front of the new state rostrum, and is now completing the construction of a mudflow protection system for Ashgabat.
Turkmenistan cooperates with individual Russian regions in economy, social and cultural spheres.
The President of Turkmenistan has repeatedly noted that «the development of direct effective contacts with the regions of Russia is one of the key areas of interstate dialogue, which has been renewed in the modern era».
KAMAZ trucks
Turkmenistan is one of the largest markets for automotive products of Tatarstan. KAMAZ has dispatched over 11,000 vehicles to the country. Of these, 2,000 have been delivered over the past three years.
Since 2008, a training and service center «KAMAZ» with an area of more than 5 thousand square meters has been operating in Ashgabat. The company is building new auto centers in the regions of Turkmenistan. The official opening of the service center in Turkmenbashi took place on November 11, 2021. The company will also open service centers in Lebap, Mary and Dashoguz.
— To date, a list of special construction projects proposed for the assembly of cars in Turkmenistan has been made up jointly. The possibility of assembling tank trucks for drinking and industrial water, fuel trucks, cars with a crane-manipulator installation, garbage trucks, aerial platforms is considered, — reported the press office of the company.
A number of cars will be produced directly in Turkmenistan.
The construction and commissioning of an assembly building for the production of cars based on the service center in Ashgabat is planned for the IV quarter of 2022.
Good neighborhood is the key to great success
Another example is the Astrakhan region of the Russian Federation.
— This is a close neighbor of Turkmenistan in the Caspian Sea. The cooperation of our country with the Astrakhan region has been established in various fields, — noted the Turkmen leader.
This year, Turkmenistan sent Turkmen-made products to the Astrakhan region free of charge as a sign of friendship and good neighborliness. The list of products included medicines and medical supplies, as well as food, textiles and other goods.
In December this year, during a working visit of the delegation of the Astrakhan region, headed by its governor, to Ashgabat, it was agreed to open a logistics center of Turkmenistan in Astrakhan in the near future. Having settled in the port special economic zone, the work of the center will have a positive effect on the dynamics of the growth of trade turnover, which in 9 months of 2021 amounted to 200 million dollars.
First of all, the Astrakhan partners are ready to increase the export of manufactured goods and food products, in particular vegetables and rice. The parties discussed the prospects for organizing a regular auto-ferry line on the Olya-Turkmenbashi route. The readiness for partnership in the shipbuilding industry was also emphasized.
One of the important topics of discussion was the educational sphere. About 2 thousand Turkmen students study at Astrakhan universities and the regional authorities are ready to expand cooperation in this direction. The importance of expanding interaction in science, education, culture, health care and sports was emphasized.
GAZ, Krasnoe Sormovo and LUKOIL
Other interesting facts of cooperation between our countries: «GAZ Group» JSC exports buses, cars, special equipment and spare parts for them to Turkmenistan. The Krasnoye Sormovo shipyard has built six oil tankers for Turkmenistan since 2009.
One of the largest private oil and gas companies, LUKOIL, is taking part in the development of the Turkmen-Azerbaijani Dostluk field in the Caspian Sea.
All the above events and facts demonstrate a high level of state relations and the importance of cooperation between our countries, as well as great prospects for interaction in various fields.
