OREANDA-NEWS. August 19, 2010.  President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov chaired a working meeting that focused on the important issues regarding the further development of the trade sector, carpet and textile industries and entrepreneurship in the light of the priority tasks set to these important sectors of the national economy. The Vice Premiers and the heads of the relevant ministries and departments including the State Commodity and Raw Materials Exchange and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry took part in the meeting. 

Minister of Trade and Foreign Economic Relations B. Abaev reported on the work done by the Ministry in the past seven months. It was noted that goods turnover steadily grew due to the measures taken throughout the country and the work to ensure an abundance of food products and flood domestic market with the goods was consistently carried out. Particular attention was given to the quality of products, product expansion and improvement of marketable style of goods and observance of sanitary standards.

Commenting on the report, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted that though the large-scale work that produced positive results was carried out, insufficient attention was given to the export potential of the trade sector. In this regard the Turkmen leader instructed the Minister of Trade and Foreign Economic Relations in collaboration with the heads of the sectoral ministries to elaborate the plan of actions to further increase export of domestically produced goods and establishing close foreign economic relations with interested foreign partners based on the research in market needs and opportunities to be conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Minister of Textile Industry A. Babayeva noted that in the epoch of new Revival and fundamental reforms the promotion of the textile industry recognized as one of the most profitable and promising sectors of the national economy had gained the status of a key priority of the national policy, and as a result the consistent measures were taken throughout the country to modernize existing facilities and construction of new textile complexes supplied with advanced technologies and state-of-the-art equipment.

Emphasizing that the young, dynamically developing textile industry had an important place in the structure of the national economy, the Turkmen leader focused on a number of urgent tasks that must be fulfilled as soon as possible. Underscoring the need to intensify the work aimed at enhancing the export potential of the textile industry and increase return on investments allocated by the Government on a regular basis for the development of this sector, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov instructed to take immediate measures to modernize and reconstruct obsolete and outdated textile enterprises and increase the rate of production of textiles able to compete on world market.

Minister of State, Chairperson of the Turkmenhaly State Joint Stock Corporation O. Ishangulyeva reported on the measures taken to increase the performance indicators of carpet factories, promote and widely advertise Turkmen carpet notable for unsurpassed beauty and quality and age-old fame worldwide. The Minister of State reported that the rate of commodity production and export of finished products had considerably increased in January-July due to the state support including substantial tax benefits. O. Ishangulyeva noted that a high demand in Turkmen carpets was evidenced by a keen interest displayed by the visitors in Turkmenistan pavilion at World Expo-2010 in Shanghai (China) presenting carpet and carpet articles along with products manufactured by other leading sectors of Turkmen economy.

Emphasizing that carpet weaving deeply rooted in ancient times was rightfully considered an inseparable part of our invaluable national heritage the Turkmen leader noted that international exhibitions held in the country and abroad contributed directly to further development and promotion of this unique art, revival of the ancient traditions of Turkmen carpet weaving. The President instructed the heads of the relevant ministries and departments to give particular attention further to modernization and reconstruction of textile enterprises that must meet standards.

Then the floor was given to Chairman of the State Commodity and Raw Materials Exchange S. Meredov, who reported on the ongoing work and informed the President of the beginning of 2010 had seen a progressive increase in number of transactions and contracts concluded through the State Exchange that had ensured a substantial increase in currency earnings for the State budget as well as in number of foreign firms and companies from dozens of countries participating in auctions.

Commenting on the report, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov focused on the need to intensify the work carried out in this field, study thoroughly the practices of exchange trade in foreign countries and apply new, more effective methods.

Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry P. Taganov reported on the work done in the past seven months. In particular, P. Taganov reported on specialized international exhibitions including commodity expositions of the private sector held on a regular basis in the country and the participation of Turkmen delegations in international exhibitions arranged all over the world including the World Expo-2010 in Shanghai. As is known, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov attended the Expo-2010 opening ceremony during his state visit the People’s Republic of China this spring.

Underscoring the significance of Turkmenistan’s participation in large-scale events of this kind, the Turkmen leader emphasized that co-organizing the exhibitions aimed at promoting impressive achievements of Turkmenistan recognized rightfully worldwide as one of dynamically developing countries, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry must contribute not only to promoting and advertising a wide range of domestically produced goods but also selling them on foreign markets. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov stated that no initiatives had been unfortunately put forward in this field and the efforts and measures taken by the heads of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry were insufficient.

Chairman of the Union of Manufacturers and Entrepreneurs A. Dadaev took an opportunity to expressed gratitude to the Turkmen leader on behalf of representative of the private sector of the national economy for the unceasing support for small and medium businesses in the country. This was evidenced by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov’s participation in the ceremonies of putting new private enterprises, Bereketli in Abadan town in Ahal Velayat and Aybolek furniture factory in Ashgabat, into operation last month. It was noted that Turkmen entrepreneurs, who enjoyed most-favored nation treatment in the country, contributed in a worthy manner to achieving the national development goals and played active role in strengthening the capacity of production infrastructure and construction of important facilities including social ones.

During the meeting A. Dadaev presented the draft project for construction of recreation centres in the Avaza national tourism zone on the ecologically pure Caspian seaside, to the President for consideration.

Approving the project in whole, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov emphasized that the Government would provide continued support to the Union of Manufacturers and Entrepreneurs especially because a crucial role was assigned to the private sector in strengthening the national economy.

The Turkmen leader noted that the private sector should use in full its potential and resources to promote small business and actively contribute to implementing the National Programme for the improvement of social and economic conditions in villages, settlements, towns in etraps and etrap centres emphasizing that Turkmen entrepreneurs had a substantial potential for building small-scale enterprises, roads, schools, kindergartens, apartment houses and other social facilities in rural areas in the framework of this Programme. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said that this potential should be effectively used to implement the large-scale programme for creating the Avaza national tourism zone. Stating that the Government was interested in steadily increasing a number of private enterprises producing high-quality commodities, the President instructed the heads of the Union of Manufacturers and Entrepreneurs to expand its activity and make it more effective.

Then the floor was given to Vice Premier T. Japarov, who reported on the financial and economic situation in the textile industry, the trade and services sector. The Vice Premier said that the stable growth rates were observed in these sectors in the past seven months. The Vice Premier informed of the measures taken to finance the projects for modernization of textile and carpet factories.

Commenting on the report, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov emphasized on the importance of the tasks set to these sectors and instructed Chairman of the Supreme Chamber of Inspection G. Saparlyev to take personal control over the measures aimed at eliminating the shortfalls revealed and prepared the report on the measures taken.

Vice Premier H. Muhammedov reported on the ongoing work in the sectors under his supervision including the textile and carpet industries and the trade and services sectors, and in particular the activity of the State Commodity and Raw Materials Exchange and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The Vice Premier reported on the specific measures taken to fulfill the tasks set forth in the 2011-2030 National Social and Economic Development Programme.

The Vice Premier expressed gratitude to President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov for conducting the meeting and assured the Turkmen leader that all textile enterprises and trade and services establishments would spare no effort to fulfill the tasks to improve their activity and eliminate the shortfalls revealed textile, the meeting and assured the Turkmen leader that all of the textile industry, trade and services of Turkmenistan will make every effort to carry out their tasks aimed at further improvement and elimination of deficiencies identified.

Commenting on the report, the President instructed to hold a special meeting involving the relevant high-ranking officials to discuss the issues regarding further development of the textile and carpet industries, the trade sector and develop the specific recommendations for accelerated modernization of these sectors.

Summing up the meeting, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov focused on the priority tasks set to the ministries and sectoral departments. In particular, the high-ranking officials of the trade and textile sectors were instructed to ensure that high performance indicators were achieved in compliance with the long-term development programmes. The Turkmen leader said that the high-ranking officials should enforce discipline and order at enterprises and organisations and take necessary measures to complete construction of facilities according to schedule.

The specific tasks were set to Vice Premier H. Muhammedov and Minister of Textile Industry A. Babaeva who should ensure within their authority profitability of textile enterprises through increasing labour productivity and reducing product costs; complete the construction and equipment of enterprises according to schedule; carry out the consistent work on modernization and re-equipment of enterprises, bring textile enterprises and complexes put into operation in recent years up to full production capacity. The high-ranking officials were instructed to prepare the proposals on construction of textile enterprises in the regions producing a sufficient amount of raw cotton and keep strict control over manufacture of new, high-quality textile products. Noting that Turkmen textiles were in high demand in the country and abroad, the Turkmen leader demanded that textile exports to world markets be steadily enhanced through developing the market services responsible for conducting market research and merchandising commodities.

President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said that textile enterprises must be supplied with necessary spare parts, chemical agents and dyestuffs through establishing long-term partnership directly with manufacturers. The Turkmen leader said that particular attention should be given to training highly qualified specialist able to operate state-of-the-art equipment and advanced technologies.

Focusing on the need to manage properly the silk industry, the Turkmen leader instructed the relevant high-ranking officials to study thoroughly and prepared the proposals on further development of silk production in the country. The President instructed to eliminate the shortfalls revealed at the factory producing panne velvet in Ruhabat Etrap and ensure its effective operation.

Minister of Trade and Foreign Economic Relations B. Abaev was instructed to keep control over the affordability of goods and flood the domestic commodity market.

The Turkmen leader demanded that the activity regarding issuance of licenses for sale and production of food products, observance of sanitary standards, discipline and order in stores, shopping centres and bazaars that must sell a broad range of high-quality goods to the population. The priority tasks included further enhancement of trade and economic cooperation with foreign states.

President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov instructed Chairman of the State Commodity and Raw Materials Exchange Sh. Meredov to study prices for the goods on world markets on a regular basis an intensify contacts with exchanges in other countries.

The Turkmen leader said that in light of the tasks strict control should be kept over sales of exported goods produced in Turkmenistan through the commodity and raw materials exchange and import of goods at the lowest prices; timely registration of contracts concluded by enterprises and firms participating in the auctions through the State Exchange; improvement of exchange of information through establishing an electronic communication network connected to velayat branches of the State Exchange; the effective work of the State Exchange aimed at advertising domestically produced goods through mass media and on world markets.

Chairperson of the Turkmenhaly State Joint Stock Corporation O. Ishangulyeva was instructed to ensure effective advertising of goods so as to promote the national art of carpet weaving, expand outlets for Turkmen carpet articles and increase profitability of Turkmen carpet enterprises.

The President instructed the relevant high-ranking officials to prepare the proposals on construction of the enterprises processing saraja wool and producing high-quality woolen yarn that was used to make carpets. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov emphasized that along with the implementation of the production plans including improvement of the quality of carpet articles produced by the enterprises affiliated with the Turkmenhaly Corporation, it was necessary to conduct the activities aimed at studying the history of the national art of carpet weaving, studying and popularizing the rich experience accumulated by Turkmen craftswomen among youth, bring the younger generation to respect the centuries-old art of carpet weaving.

The President gave the specific instructions to Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry P. Taganov to hold international exhibitions and business forums, seminars and conferences in collaboration with the ministries and sectoral departments on a regular basis in the country and abroad, take necessary measures to enhance trade and economic ties between Turkmen enterprises and foreign firms and companies, exchange experiences and develop versatile cooperation with chambers of commerce and industry in foreign countries.

Focusing on an growing role of the private sector in enhancing the economic strength of the country, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov instructed Chairman of the Union of Manufacturers and Entrepreneurs A. Dadaev to significantly broaden the range and increase the rate of production of agricultural products by private producers, particularly food products, and ensure that the Union’s members actively participated in exhibitions, fairs and economic forums organized in the country and abroad to enhance cooperation with foreign businessmen.

The Turkmen leader instructed to prepare the proposals on construction of the enterprises producing building materials that would improve procurement of private companies, which had been authorized to implement construction projects, with building materials.

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov emphasized that entrepreneurs should contribute in a worthy manner to developing the national economy by manufacturing high-quality commodities. In this regard the President focused on the possibilities for widely involving private businesses in procurement of budgetary organisations on a contractual basis with food products and manufactured goods.

Noting that that the special attention would be given to the trade and textile sectors that remained the critical ones, the Turkmen leader stated that the successful fulfillment of the tasks set to these sectors would profoundly contributed to enhancing the economic strength of the country.

Upon concluding the meeting President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov wished good health, happiness, prosperity and every success in their work to those present.