Oriented on making people closer

The possibilities for expanding Turkmen-German cooperation and establishing direct links at the regional level were discussed during the working visit of Counsil of Turkmenistan in the Federal Republic of Germany (Frankfurt am Main), Myrat Ozbekbayev, to the federal state of Saarland.

As part of the visit, which took place from January 28–30 in Saarbrücken, a meeting was organized with the State Secretary for European Affairs and Head of the State Chancellery of Saarland, David Lindemann.

During the discussion on the main directions of Turkmen-German cooperation, the importance of establishing interregional contacts was emphasized, and the prospects for partnership between Turkmenistan and Saarland in areas of mutual interest were analyzed.

In this context, the participants exchanged views on the possibilities of organizing bilateral visits at various levels and holding joint events in the economic and cultural-humanitarian spheres.

In addition, the leadership of the federal state was provided with information about the significance of international events dedicated to the 30th anniversary of permanent neutrality of Turkmenistan and the declaration of 2025 as the International Year of Peace and Trust.

The Consul also met with Oliver Schmitt, a board member of the Saar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Oliver Groll, the head of the foreign trade department of the Chamber.

During the negotiations, the parties expressed their support for establishing partnership relations between the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan and Saarland and initiating dialogue between the business circles of both sides. The prospects for the participation of Saarland companies in various trade and economic events held both in Turkmenistan and abroad were discussed.

Among the promising areas of cooperation, energy, mechanical engineering, the pharmaceutical industry, and high-tech were highlighted.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Saarland, which includes about 50,000 companies and private entrepreneurs, expressed a deep interest in establishing contacts with the business community of Turkmenistan.

Additionally, as part of the working visit, the Consul met with Katarina Jakob, a member of the International Association of Akhal-Teke Horse Breeding, a distinguished horse breeder of Turkmenistan, and the director of the equestrian farm “Jacob Pferdezucht GbR”. The sides discussed the prospects for further development of equestrian sports in Turkmenistan and exchanged views on upcoming events dedicated to the National Holiday of the Turkmen Horse, the participation of Akhal-Teke horses in international competitions abroad, particularly in Germany.

Katarina Jakob is a long-time admirer of the Akhal-Teke breed and the owner of Akhal-Teke horses, which she trains in show jumping, dressage, and eventing. Her horses have successfully competed in Germany and other European countries, winning prize places.

For Reference:

Saarland is the smallest federal state in Germany by area, excluding the three major cities—Berlin, Hamburg, and Bremen—that hold a similar status. The state has a population of around 1 million people, with Saarbrücken as its capital. It is located at the junction of Germany, Belgium, and Luxembourg.

This region, along with French Lorraine and the Duchy of Luxembourg, formed an industrial triangle of coal and steel from the second half of the 19th century through much of the 20th century.

For example, the former metallurgical plant in the city of Völklingen, "Völklinger Hütte", became the first industrial monument to be included in the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1994. For more than a century, it was the largest iron smelting and steel production facility in Germany.

Notably, Saarland has launched a program to promote the French language, with the aim of making the region fully bilingual by 2043. French is already taught in kindergartens, and most schools and universities conduct classes in both languages. This "French" strategy is intended to make Saarland an indispensable bridge to Germany and a gateway to France.

Saarland is also a powerful intellectual hub in Germany—home to the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence, branches of leading research centers such as Max Planck, Fraunhofer, and Leibniz Institutes.

The economic development of Saarland is closely tied to regional structural changes that accompanied the cessation of coal mining. Until the mid-20th century, the mining and related steel industries were the main employers in the region and formed its economic infrastructure.

Despite its small population and modest size, Saarland is home to major industrial enterprises such as “ZF Friedrichshafen” (auto components), “Saarstahl AG” and “Dillinger Hüttenwerke AG” (steel industry), “Ford Werke GmbH” (automotive industry), “Robert Bosch GmbH” (electrical engineering), “Fresenius Medical Care,” “Villeroy & Boch AG” (ceramics industry), “Hager Electro GmbH” (electrotechnics), and others.

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Photo: provided by the Consulate of Turkmenistan in the Federal Republic of Germany