OREANDA-NEWS. February 24, 2009. Turkmenistan achieved evident progress in implementing economic reforms was a major conclusion of the Annual Report of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development which was presented at the President Hotel in Ashgabat.

Heike Harmgart, an economist of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development had specially arrived in the Turkmen capital to participate in the meeting which brought together the specialists of the large banks, ministries and departments of the country.

Exchanging views on the further trends in fruitful partnership the sides focused on the reciprocal willingness to steadily intensify it through implementing joint programmes and projects as well.

The participants noted that the reliable platform for the further constructive dialogue was the progressive policy of the leadership of the country and the large-scale measures to liberalize the national economy including the unification of the exchange rate.

Mrs. Heike Harmgart said that the analysis of the situation gave every reason to say that the preventive measures would enable Turkmenistan to avoid the adverse impact and mitigate the effects of the global financial and economic crisis. The guest noted that the country’s financial stability had achieved particularly through establishing the Stabilization Fund and implementing the financial and banking reforms. The EBRD experts provided the recommendations on the maintenance of sustainable development of the country.

Focusing on the importance of further developing the banking sector Mrs. Heike Harmgart said that EBRD saw the vast opportunities for Turkmenistan’s long-term economic growth. In their regard the international experts informed of the EBRD’s willingness to expand cooperation with Turkmenistan in such major sectors as private sector investments.

During the visit to the Turkmen capital the guest held a series of the talks with the high-ranking officials of the ministries and departments including the Ministry of Finance, the Institute of Strategic Planning and Economic Development, the State Committee for Statistics.