The 7th session of the Turkmen–British Trade and Economic Council took place in Ashgabat last week. The British delegation was led by Duchess Emma Nicolson, a member of the House of Lords and the Trade Representative of the Prime Minister of Great Britain, the State News Agency of Turkmenistan reported.
The British delegation included top managers and representatives of profile organizations and large companies including UK Export Finance, British Petroleum, Bloomberg LP, De La Rue, Petrofac, Rolls-Royce, Promethean World, United Insurance Brokers, JCB, Ed Broking, Shel, Buried Hill, Edgen Murray Europe Ltd, Ethos Energy, Weir Oil and Gas, Hermes Datacomms, Bristow Helicopters, Summit Conferences and Exhibitions Ltd, Expo, and Intensive School of English. Representatives of financial and economic sectors, ministries and state departments, and the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs took part in the session from the Turkmen side.
A total of 27 companies with the participation of British capital and 180 investment projects with the participation of British companies totaling 1.7 billion US dollars are registered in Turkmenistan.
The fuel and energy sphere was outlined as one of the main vectors of Turkmen–British cooperation. At present, the construction of transnational Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan–India gas pipeline (TAPI) is a priority project in this area. Supply of Turkmen gas to Europe, in particular, the project of Trans Caspian gas pipeline, interest to which has been demonstrated by many countries, was also reviewed.
Transport and communication sphere was also outlined among priority directions of Turkmen–British cooperation. Big opportunities are opened for cooperation in this segment for Turkmenistan and Great Britain. Construction of Turkmenbashy International Seaport was completed in May last year. Use of its logistics capabilities can be attractive for British and European business circles which aim to expand and strengthen their presence in Central Asian and Caspian regions. Participation of partners from Europe in implementation of transport corridors such as Lapis Lazuli, Uzbekistan–Turkmenistan–Iran–Oman, Turkmenistan–Azerbaijan–Georgia–Romania can also be promising.
In addition, a vast field for fruitful cooperation is opened in such high technological spheres as telecommunication and information technologies, agro-industrial sector and education.
Members of the British delegation confirmed their interest in the further development of trade and economic cooperation and close business contacts with Turkmenistan, which Great Britain sees as an important partner in Central Asia.
