From September 30 to October 4, a delegation from Turkmenistan headed by the Minister of Railway Transport, Mammed Akmammedov, paid a working visit to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, to participate in the international exhibition and conference “Global Rail.” At the international projects pavilion, the Ministry of Railway Transport of Turkmenistan presented its international projects and models of transport infrastructure.

On the first day of the event, the Minister of Energy and Infrastructure of the UAE, Suhail Mohammed Al Mazrouei, received the delegation of the Ministry of Railway Transport of Turkmenistan and noted the achievements reached in Turkmen-Emirati cooperation in the railway sector in a short period. Afterwards, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Ministry of Railway Transport of Turkmenistan and the joint-stock company “Etihad Rail Company.”

This Memorandum concerns the implementation of railway projects abroad and provides for joint actions, exchange of experience between representatives of the railway authorities of the two countries, as well as exploration of opportunities for cooperation in mutually beneficial areas. The implementation of the Memorandum lays the foundation for the development of cooperation between the railway agencies of the two countries and enables systematic work on attracting investments necessary for the implementation of international projects.

A bilateral meeting was then held with the General Director of “Etihad Rail Company,” Shadi Malak. During the meeting, the parties discussed international railway projects and their significance. Shadi Malak announced that the leadership of “Etihad Rail Company” plans to visit Turkmenistan with a working delegation in the first half of October and emphasized the high level of interaction between Turkmenistan and the UAE in the railway sector, as well as the significant progress achieved in a short time.

Within the framework of the “Global Rail” international exhibition and conference, a bilateral meeting was also held between the Deputy Minister of Public Works of Afghanistan for Railway Transport, Mohammad Ishaq Sahibzada, and the Minister of Railway Transport of Turkmenistan. The parties discussed increasing cargo turnover between the two countries and resolving existing issues. The Afghan side noted the active work on the warehouse complex under construction at the Turgundi station and expressed gratitude to the Turkmen side. The Turgundi–Herat railway project was also discussed; it primarily has a humanitarian purpose. Its implementation will ensure that millions of residents of Herat Province have access to affordable food and essential goods. This project holds strategic importance not only for the development of the transport systems of Turkmenistan and Afghanistan but also for the entire Central Asian region.

Afterwards, a bilateral meeting took place with the Deputy Director General of the Abu Dhabi Development Fund, Rashed Mohammed Al Kaabi. During the meeting, the financing of the railway project was discussed. Mohammed Al Kaabi expressed his views on the financing issues and stated his readiness to consider the possibility of providing financial support for the projects.

ORIENT