ADB to continue cooperation with Turkmenistan in the same vein
The Asian Development Bank has published the Country Operations Business Plan (COBP) 2020-2022 for Turkmenistan. By and large, it is aligned with its Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) for 2017-2021. It provides for three major avenues of support: hydrocarbon market diversification and energy trade promotion; diversification of the non-hydrocarbon sectors through transport infrastructure investment to improve market connectivity and private sector development; and knowledge work on economic diversification and reforms, as derived from the government’s development objectives. Also, this COBP embraces key operational priorities stemming from ADB’s Strategy 2030, such as addressing remaining poverty and reducing inequalities, including accelerating progress in gender equality; tackling climate change, building climate and disaster resilience, and enhancing environmental sustainability; strengthening governance and institutional capacity; and fostering regional cooperation and integration etc. Бизнес-план страновых операций принимается АБР каждые 2 года и описывает согласованность с более объемной и длительной стратегией странового партнерства и регионального сотрудничества, включая гранты и проекты, находящиеся в стадии разработки. A country operations business plan is adopted by ADB every 2 years and is aligned with a longer country partnership and regional cooperation strategy, including grants and projects under development. ADB’s activities in Turkmenistan are focused on transport and energy - infrastructure projects in these sectors contribute to enhancing regional cooperation. Cooperation between Turkmenistan and the ADB has been ongoing since 2000 and is mainly aimed at diversification of the country’s export markets and the related improvement of the transport and energy sectors. Thus, ADB provided expert assistance in establishing electric power supplies to Afghanistan on long-term basis. The list of approved and ongoing projects includes following: “Strengthening Urban Investment Planning and Capacity for Project Preparation and Implementation in Central and West Asia”, “Partnership with the Private Sector for Sustainable Trade Facilitation Results in the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Program”, “Better Customs for Better Client Services in Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Countries”, “Regional Cooperation on Increasing Cross-Border Energy Trading within the Central Asian Power System – Expansion of Membership in Central Asian Power System” and many others.
The Bank’s approved lending portfolio is amounted $ 125 million. Since 2010, Turkmenistan has also participated in technical assistance projects under the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Program.
Altyn ASHIROVA
