On November 11, President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov received Masato Kanda, President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), who was visiting Ashgabat. During the meeting, the parties outlined the strategic priorities for the new phase of partnership, focusing on supporting private entrepreneurship, developing healthcare, and implementing smart technologies.

President Berdimuhamedov emphasized that Turkmenistan highly values its long-standing, effective cooperation with ADB. Over the past 25 years, the Bank has financed a number of major projects in the country that are crucial for sustainable development, including in the electricity, infrastructure, and railway sectors, many of which are being implemented under the CAREC (Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation) program.

The head of state called for a transition to more effective and new forms of cooperation. He particularly emphasized the need to intensify interaction with the private sector and the country's banks, as well as the provision of financial, credit, and advisory services for the development of small and medium-sized businesses.

Cooperation has also reached a new, innovative level thanks to the city of Arkadag. At the meeting, it was noted that the Memorandum of Understanding signed in May between the State Committee for the Construction of the City of Arkadag and the ADB opens up broad opportunities for expanding partnerships in the areas of water and energy conservation, as well as the use of renewable energy sources in the new city, built according to the "smart city" concept.

Further strengthening of cooperation in the fuel and energy sector was also identified as an important area of cooperation.

During President Masato Kanda's visit, concrete results were achieved in the healthcare sector: an agreement was signed to finance the construction of a secondary medical school in Ashgabat, as well as a document on cooperation in technical support between the Ministry of Health of Turkmenistan and the Asian Development Bank.

ORIENT