The World Bank has confirmed its readiness to support key projects in Turkmenistan in the water resources and transport sectors. This was stated in a press release from the organisation’s regional office for Europe and Central Asia following a meeting in Tashkent between World Bank Vice-President Antonella Bassani and Merdanguly Palivanov, Deputy Chairman of the Central Bank of Turkmenistan, as reported by the online publication ‘Business Turkmenistan’.

The parties discussed the implementation of a framework cooperation programme setting out the main areas of collaboration between the World Bank and Turkmenistan. The Bank expressed its support for the country’s national priorities, including the development of infrastructure and the water sector.

The meeting took place as part of a visit by a World Bank delegation to Uzbekistan to attend a meeting of the ‘Swiss Group’ of founding member countries.

The World Bank had previously stepped up its activities in Central Asia by approving funding for the restoration of the Northern Aral Sea ecosystem and launching a regional energy programme worth $1 billion.