Talks between the President of Turkmenistan and the Prime Minister of Georgia
The second day of Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov's state visit to Georgia, July 17, was devoted to government-level talks. In Tbilisi, the head of state met with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, first one-on-one and then in an expanded format with the participation of government delegations.
The current summit coincided with a significant date—the anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. In this regard, Serdar Berdimuhamedov proposed celebrating the 35th anniversary of this historic event next year.
During the talks, the parties acknowledged the comprehensive and strategic nature of the partnership. The main focus was on diversifying transport and logistics routes and the fuel and energy sector. The Turkmen leader confirmed Ashgabat's readiness to facilitate Georgia's access to the markets of Central Asia and the Asia-Pacific region, as well as to discuss energy cooperation in detail.
The Lazuli International Corridor (Afghanistan-Turkmenistan-Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey), the Caspian-Black Sea route with Romania, and the TRACECA program were identified as key transit arteries. The partners agreed to continue close bilateral work to develop these transport vectors.
The talks focused on interregional ties. Building on the successful agreement between the cities of Arkadag and Telavi, the President of Turkmenistan put forward an initiative to establish sister-city relations between the key coastal cities of Turkmenbashi and Batumi, which will strengthen port cooperation on the Caspian and Black Seas. In the humanitarian sphere, the unveiling of the Shota Rustaveli monument in Ashgabat and the deep respect for the legacy of Magtymguly Fragi in Georgia, where Turkmen Culture Days are currently taking place, were noted.
Following their meetings, Serdar Berdimuhamedov and Irakli Kobakhidze signed a Joint Statement. At the departmental level, the parties exchanged a substantial package of documents, including a two-year cooperation program between the ministries of foreign affairs, memoranda on state property privatization, financial monitoring, healthcare, industry, and maritime transport.
Leading universities, theaters, libraries, and museums of the two countries also signed direct partnership agreements. The Turkmen leader invited the Georgian prime minister to visit Ashgabat at his convenience.
The practical follow-up to the visit was the Turkmen-Georgian business forum and exhibition of Turkmen goods held in Tbilisi. On the sidelines of the forum, entrepreneurs held over 50 meetings, resulting in tangible commercial agreements. In particular, Turkmen private companies concluded a number of specific contracts: the Tibet Türkmen and Şerbetli Ak Gar business entities signed agreements for the export of confectionery products, while the Täç Hil company signed an agreement for the supply of Turkmen household chemicals.
Logistics contracts were signed between the Döwrebap Ulag Merkezi company and the Mizemez Gadam individual enterprise (purchase and sale of construction materials). Furthermore, memorandums of partnership were signed between the Ygtybarly ätiýaçlandyryş insurance company and the Gündogar Akymy company, which received distribution rights in the Georgian market.
Having completed the state visit, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, accompanied by Irakli Kobakhidze, headed to Tbilisi International Airport, from where he departed for his homeland. On the evening of July 17, the presidential plane landed in Ashgabat.
