The 8th meeting of the joint Turkmen-Tatarstan working group on trade, economic, scientific, technical and cultural cooperation was held in Ashgabat on March 15-16.

The meeting was co-chaired by Minister of Finance and Economy of Turkmenistan Serdar Jorayev and Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Industry and Trade of the Republic of Tatarstan Oleg Korobchenko, who led a delegation of representatives from six ministries, three leading universities, the Academy of Sciences and 17 enterprises.

As noted during the meeting, the face-to-face format makes it possible to interact more constructively and resolve issues of priority importance taking into account the interests of the parties. As part of the event, the Turkmen-Tatarstan business forum was held on Wednesday.

Its rich program, which included speeches by representatives of senior government officials and top managers of private companies, thematic round tables, bilateral meetings and negotiations, allowed us to identify the most relevant areas for further building cooperation, to voice their counter proposals and expectations.

On Thursday, March 16, the meeting of the joint working group continued. Against the background of the upward trajectory of partnership relations between Turkmenistan and Tatarstan in the last decade, they have something to discuss right now, when the coronavirus pandemic, geopolitical risks, as well as sanctions imposed on the banking structures of the Russian Federation affected the foreign trade turnover between the two economic entities in 2022. According to the Minister of Finance and Economy of Turkmenistan Serdar Jorayev, in comparison with 2021, it decreased by 40% in 2022.

Therefore, it is time to intensify business contacts, consider possible mechanisms and forms of trade relations and settlements, joint projects in the fields of energy, industry, transport, agriculture, environmental protection, education, and healthcare.

— We have a huge mutual potential, including in the investment sphere, for the creation of joint ventures, the implementation of investment projects and programs, - said Jorayev.

The head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Republic of Tatarstan Oleg Korobchenko, in turn, expressed Tatarstan's interest in expanding economic and investment ties with Turkmen partners.

"Cooperation in the field of automotive, shipbuilding, helicopter construction and the development of new logistics routes (including North-South) is of great interest," he said. - I believe that there is a huge potential for developing cooperation and attracting small and medium-sized businesses to work together.

Oleg Korobchenko noted that this year has started actively for both sides. The delegation of Tatarstan headed by the President of the Republic of Tatarstan recently visited Turkmenistan as part of the Russian delegation and took part in the Russian-Turkmen Business Forum. At the same time, a delegation of the Ministry of Finance and Economy of Turkmenistan was in Tatarstan to study the republic's experience in creating special economic zones and industrial sites. At yesterday's meetings, agreements were reached on a number of mutual working trips.

During the meeting, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University and the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, as well as a Memorandum of scientific and technical cooperation between the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tatarstan and the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan.

— The work of the working group should be effective. By the end of 2023, we need to achieve an increase in trade turnover compared to last year. And I, for my part, will do my best. The economy should be in the first place for us," Korobchenko said.

He also invited representatives of Turkmenistan to Kazanforum-2023 on May 18-20.

The next meeting of the working group is scheduled to be held in Kazan in 2024.

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