Oriented on making people closer

The Embassy of Turkmenistan in Belgium took an active part in the round table "Team Belgium Global Gateway", which took place on March 14 at the Egmont Palace in Brussels. The event, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belgium jointly with the country's leading economic agencies, brought together representatives of government circles, businesses and experts to discuss investments and partnerships in the Central Asian region, including the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor.

The Counselor of the Embassy of Turkmenistan in his speech familiarized the participants in detail with the dynamic development of the country's economy, its advantageous strategic position and favorable investment climate. Turkmenistan's desire to expand mutually beneficial cooperation with Belgium and the European Union in key areas such as trade, logistics and industry was emphasized.

The Turkmen side paid special attention to the development of transport and logistics infrastructure in its presentation. The embassy adviser noted that the Turkmenbashi International Sea Port, with a cargo turnover of over 17 million tons per year, is becoming a key link in Eurasian trade. The prospects opening up for Belgian companies in connection with the development of Turkmenistan's 5,000 km railway network, the modernization of terminals and the active introduction of digital technologies in the transport sector were also emphasized.

An important aspect of the speech was Turkmenistan's energy policy. The diplomat emphasized the strategic importance of the Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline project for the energy security of the European Union, as well as the East-West gas pipeline as a key element of the national gas transportation system. Along with this, information on the active development of "green" energy in the country, including projects for the construction of solar and wind power plants and the concept of the "smart" city of Arkadag was presented.

The round table included a discussion of investment opportunities in the construction and industrial sectors of Turkmenistan. Representatives of Belgian companies were presented with the potential for expanding high-tech industrial zones, creating modern mineral processing plants and introducing sustainable mining methods. The construction of the 600 km Ashgabat-Turkmenabat expressway, aimed at improving regional transport connectivity, was noted as a major infrastructure project.

One of the central points of the presentation was information on the development of the healthcare system and pharmaceutical industry in Turkmenistan. Particular attention of the forum participants was paid to the creation of an advanced medical cluster in the city of Arkadag, which is designed to ensure the country's self-sufficiency in the production of medicines and medical equipment. The Turkmen side invited Belgian manufacturers of medical equipment, investors in the healthcare sector and pharmaceutical companies to actively cooperate in this strategically important area.

The forum participants included heads and representatives of leading Belgian companies such as Jan De Nul, DEME, Port of Antwerp-Bruges, Sarens and Elia Grid International, who expressed interest in the possibilities of participating in large-scale infrastructure and logistics projects in Turkmenistan.

The participation of the Embassy of Turkmenistan in Belgium in this round table was another confirmation of the country's desire to strengthen trade and economic ties with Belgium and the European Union. Following the event, bilateral negotiations were held, during which the prospects for implementing specific projects were discussed with an emphasis on attracting the private sector and using innovative financing mechanisms.

ORIENT

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Photo: provided by the Embassy of Turkmenistan in Belgium