OREANDA-NEWS. October 15, 2009. The International Investment Forum initiated by President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov has opened in Ashgabat today. The large-scale economic event is organized by the Chamber of Industry and Commerce under the patronage of the Government of Turkmenistan. The co-organizer of the three-day forum is IC Energy Ltd. (Great Britain). The Exhibition Centre in Ashgabat – the venue of the large-scale forum tuned into the centre of world business activity and an open platform for business meetings and talks.

During the past two days the International Airport of Ashgabat received numerous charter flights with the delegations of the forum participants. Over 600 top managers of the largest foreign companies, stock exchanges, commercial banks, the experts of the consulting and rating agencies from over 50 countries worldwide take part in the forum.

The first international investment forum ever hosted by the country is a remarkable event in the modern history of Turkmenistan, which takes the consistent steps to implement large-scale reforms and modernize the national economy through diversification, adoption of state-of-the-art technologies and advanced management methods in all the sectors, smooth transition to market relations, wide support of private business initiatives, introduction of innovations in the financial and banking sectors. As is known, the successful investment policy is a key factor in the progress of the country.

The forum participants will receive the comprehensive information on Turkmenistan’s economic potential and the impressive ‘investment portfolio’ of the ongoing and future projects and identify the priority fields for investments.

The forum agenda of the first day includes the plenary sessions. On the second day the discussions will be split in two sections – the strategies of development and investment potential of oil and gas and chemical industries of Turkmenistan that ranks among the world’s energy producers and the prospects for investing the projects in a wide spectrum of fields including real estate, construction, social sphere, civil and transport infrastructure, textile, agricultural, power and medical industries, banking sector, in particular the use of the alternative sources of energy, telecommunications and information technologies.

The presentation of Avaza national tourism zone – the grandiose investment project initiated by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov that became the point of reference of a landmark approach to employing the profound natural and economic potential of the country through an influx of foreign investments in tourism and recreation industries in particular, will be made in the framework of the forum.

The exhibition of Turkmenistan’s economic achievements, which will be opened on the closing day to mark the 18th anniversary of Turkmenistan independence, will vividly illustrate the large-scale changes taking place in the country.

Thus, the forum agenda is aimed at initiating a constructive dialogue and wide exchange of experiences, and eventually achieving a concrete result. The three-day forum will be an opportunity for potential foreign partners to receive the comprehensive information about Turkmen market and present their proposals on cooperation.