Oriented on making people closer

On 20 November, an online seminar was held within the framework of the EU Coordination Platform for the development of the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor. The event brought together representatives of government agencies of Turkmenistan, the European Union, international financial institutions and embassies of different countries.

The Turkmen side was represented by the Agency of Transport and Communications, the Agency “Turkmendemiryollary”, the State Customs Service, as well as the Ambassador of Turkmenistan in Brussels S. Palvanov.

The event was supported by the European Commission's Directorate General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA), international financial institutions including the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the French Ambassador to Turkmenistan and representatives of other diplomatic missions in Ashgabat.

Henrik Hololei, Principal Adviser to the Director General of the European Commission on International Partnerships, delivered the opening remarks. The main objective of the online seminar was to discuss Turkmenistan's priority transport projects and opportunities for their financing within the framework of international cooperation. The participants focused on the need to develop transport infrastructure to increase the transit potential of the Trans-Caspian Corridor and strengthen links between Central Asia and Europe.

The seminar was a continuation of the initiative launched in Ashgabat on 3 October, where the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor Coordination Platform was officially launched at a high level. The platform was created to facilitate dialogue between Central Asian countries, international financial institutions and the EU, as well as to promote the corridor and coordinate efforts to implement priority hard and soft infrastructure projects in Central Asia.

The seminar participants discussed a number of key issues. This included modernizations of railway infrastructure in Turkmenistan, in particular the Turkmenabat-Turkmenbashy route, with a focus on building new tracks and reducing transit time for freight. The introduction of innovative technologies, such as electronic data collection and monitoring systems, as well as the creation of a unified logistics portal to optimize transport and customs operations were discussed.

Special attention was paid to attracting international financing and technical assistance for project implementation, including support from financial institutions such as ADB, EBRD and the European Investment Bank.

The participants emphasized the importance of information exchange and coordination of efforts of all parties, development of project concepts and their presentation to potential investors. EU representatives confirmed their readiness to provide technical and advisory support, including additional studies and development of roadmaps.

The online discussion was another step in the cooperation between Turkmenistan and the EU in the field of transport and logistics.

ORIENT

Photo: предоставлено Посольством Туркменистана в Бельгии