Prospects of Turkmenistan – EU transport cooperation discussed in Brussels
Turkmenistan's Ambassador to Belgium and Head of Turkmenistan's mission to the EU Sapar Palvanov met on Tuesday with Maya Bakran, Head of the Directorate General for Transport and Mobility (DG-MOVE) of the European Commission.
DG-MOVE, based in Brussels, develops and implements the European Commission's transport policy. Its mission is to ensure that transport policy is designed for the benefit of all segments of society. The Directorate General performs these tasks using legislative proposals and program management, including project financing.
During the meeting, Ambassador Palvanov spoke about the measures and initiatives taken by Turkmenistan in the transport sector. The main focus was on sustainable transport. One of the important upcoming events for Turkmenistan in this direction is expected to be the opening of the city of Arkadag - the country's first "smart city".
"The new city boasts an environmentally friendly transport system consistent with global efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and promote sustainable transport solutions," the Ambassador said.
The Envoy also proposed various ways to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation between Turkmenistan and the EU. These proposals are based on the goals set out in the Program for the Development of Transport Diplomacy of Turkmenistan for 2022-2025 and emanating from the initiatives of Turkmenistan announced on multilateral platforms, in particular, in the UN, the International Road Transport Union, etc.
Bakran, Director General of DG-MOVE, acknowledged the importance of continuing the dialogue in the transport sector and stressed the EU's commitment to strengthening relations with Central Asian countries. She also welcomed the commitment of the Central Asian countries to the idea of promoting connectivity.
Maya Bakran spoke about the activities of the Directorate headed by her, noting that while the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) focuses on financing transport projects, DG-MOVE conducts research and publishes the results for all interested parties. The Directorate is currently completing a study on sustainable transport links between Europe and Central Asia, including Turkmenistan. The study, conducted by EU consultants on the ground, will be published in the coming days.
Bakran said that 18.5 billion euros were allocated for priority investment needs, including a number of "soft" measures aimed at digitalization, electronic document management, increased interoperability and sustainable connectivity.
The Ambassador and the head of DG-MOVE also discussed potential areas of cooperation, such as training of technical personnel in the transport sector and prospects for organizing an expert-level conference on relations between Central Asian countries and the EU in the future.
"The meeting of Ambassador Palvanov with Director General Maya Bakran highlighted the common focus on strengthening cooperation between Turkmenistan and the EU in the transport sector. The discussions focused on Turkmenistan's initiatives, the upcoming EU-EBRD study and promising areas of cooperation," the Turkmen Embassy in Brussels commented on the meeting.
"Both sides recognized numerous prospects and opportunities for further cooperation, emphasizing the importance of continuing dialogue and mutual efforts to strengthen interconnectedness and sustainable transport links between Europe and Central Asia," the diplomatic mission noted.
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