Breakfast with the President: what did Berdimuhamedov discuss with businessmen of Singapore?
Today, President Berdimuhamedov held a breakfast meeting with businessmen of Singapore. The heads of companies and holdings, which have a great influence and weight in the market of Southeast Asia, arrived for a morning meal with the high guest at the Shangri-La hotel.
These are such global brands as Indorama Chemical Corporation, a major supplier of petrochemicals and refining Fortrec Chemicals@Petpoleum, one of the leading ship-owners and operators of container transportation Pacific International Lines, a world leader in the field of ports and terminals PSA International.
The urban planning area was presented by DP Architects group, being famous by its impressive architectural projects and Surbana Jurong, specializing in infrastructure and urban development. Among the participants were financiers – heads of DBS Bank and Association of Banks in Singapore, as well as other business structures and some government agencies in Singapore.
Interest in the “economic phenomenon” of Singapore and technologies of its reproduction is obligate. After all, today it is an island city-state – one of the world leaders in high-tech industries, the largest financial, oil refining and logistics center.
Now Turkmenistan is also on the path of reforms and modernization, diversifies the industry, lays new, high-tech industries, develops transport corridors and becomes one of promising economic partners. So, the positive practice of Singapore can be borrowed.
On the other hand, Singapore’s industrialists and investors are increasingly drawing their attention to the resource-rich Central Asian country. And a number of the companies, mentioned above, have already reached specific agreements on partnership relations with the subjects of the Turkmen economy. Such intersection of mutual interests can originate a very promising cooperation. This topic was discussed at the meeting of the Turkmen leader with representatives of the business establishment of Singapore.
The presence of huge reserves of hydrocarbons, of course, is an important factor that contributes to increase the rating of the country’s attractiveness, but the energy and industrial projects of Turkmenistan are even more interesting.
The first, transnational gas pipelines are based on the developed internal infrastructure of commercial field development and transportation of raw materials to the borders, the second – on the latest technologies of its processing and creation of value added. Both have impressive export potential, and hence, the profitability in terms of capital investments.
But the country is not rich in gas. Singapore companies, engaged in logistics verbally on a global scale, are sizing up the possibilities of the international seaport of Turkmenbashi in the Caspian Sea and the geographical advantages of Turkmenistan in general.
This was also discussed at the yesterday business forum “Turkmenistan-Singapore” and on its sidelines: the country is turning into a significant transport and transit center of Eurasia, able to connect the spaces between the Pacific Ocean and the Baltic Sea, Northern Europe and the Indian Ocean. The Afghanistan-Turkmenistan-Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey transport and transit corridor has already been put into operation. The Caspian Sea – Black Sea corridor is being formed on the route of Romania, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan.
Then, having effectively working “homemade” tools and technology anywhere, and Singaporeans, being famed for it, can also export them profitably. And at the moment, the market of Turkmenistan in this respect is just a wide ploughed land waiting for the seeds, thrown into it, to grow a lush field and harvest dividends.
Large-scale urban development projects are held not only in the industrial and digital spheres, but also in business, social environment. Only now Turkmenistan is starting to build from scratch two cities at once – the new administrative center of Akhal and Ashgabat-city.
The construction industry is well-known to be a powerful engine of Singapore’s economic development, including its tourist segment – the city can receive twice as many visitors as its own population with a high level of comfort.
But the main component of the Singapore “miracle” is the high professionalism of specialists. President Berdimuhamedov also defined such a landmark in the development of Turkmenistan. Therefore, the topic of vocational education, quality of personnel training, exchange of experience has become end-to-end in all meetings of the Turkmen delegation in Singapore.
Professionalism, high competence and motivation is the main “investment” which Turkmenistan relies on. And the opening prospects of partnership with Singapore promise the beginning of an intensive exchange in this line – the transfer of knowledge, skills, technologies and “know-how”.
