World Bank Vice President Meets with Turkmenistan's Top Leaders
World Bank Vice President for Europe and Central Asia Antonella Bassani paid a working visit to Turkmenistan. During the visit, high-level meetings were held that emphasized the importance of Turkmenistan's partnership with the leading international financial institution in the country's economic development and regional cooperation. During the visit, Antonella Bassani was received by President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov and National Leader of the Turkmen People, Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov on February 28.
During the meeting with World Bank Vice President Antonella Bassani, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov noted the long-term effective cooperation between Turkmenistan and the World Bank aimed at promoting the country's economic development and implementing economic reforms. It was emphasized that large-scale measures implemented in Turkmenistan to improve the financial and banking system and comprehensive programs in various sectors help ensure economic stability and maintain high growth rates.
The priority areas of partnership included: implementation of the digital economy, modernization of the financial system, development of the private sector, ensuring environmental sustainability, development of macroeconomic policy, improvement of financial markets and expansion of investment opportunities.
Particular attention was paid to the development of the transport and logistics sector in connection with the strategic geographical position of Turkmenistan and the formation of international multimodal transport corridors North-South and East-West. The President confirmed Turkmenistan's readiness to consider specific proposals from the World Bank to participate in the creation of such projects, and also supported the idea of using new and more effective forms of cooperation with national banks and the private sector, including the introduction of advanced technologies and the activation of financial, credit and advisory services for small and medium-sized businesses.
National Leader of the Turkmen people Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov held a meeting with World Bank Vice President Antonella Bassani, as well as with World Bank Regional Director for Central Asia Tatyana Proskuryakova and Regional Director of the International Finance Corporation for Central Asia and Turkey Wiebke Schloemer.
The National Leader of the Turkmen people emphasized the important role of international cooperation in implementing the strategy for economic development of Turkmenistan and noted the significant contribution of the World Bank to financing projects in key areas such as healthcare, education, transport, communications and energy.
Particular attention during the meeting was paid to the development of the transport sector of Turkmenistan as a strategically important area and the creation of international transport corridors, including the intensification of trans-Caspian transportation and the use of the potential of the International Sea Port of Turkmenbashi.
Turkmenistan's readiness to further expand mutually beneficial partnership with the World Bank and consider specific proposals for participation in projects to create transport corridors was confirmed. Representatives of international financial organizations noted the important role of the legal status of neutrality of Turkmenistan and its international initiatives in strengthening peace in the region and on the planet as a whole.
Following both meetings, the parties confirmed their mutual interest in enhancing the partnership between Turkmenistan and the World Bank and expressed their readiness for further constructive dialogue in all areas of mutually beneficial cooperation.
ORIENT
