On 28 July, the President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, held a meeting with the President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Odile Renaud-Basso, who had arrived in Ashgabat on a working visit. This was reported by the news agency TDH.

During the negotiations, the parties discussed prospects for expanding cooperation between Turkmenistan and the EBRD in the trade, economic, financial, banking and investment sectors. Odile Renaud-Basso noted the country’s rapid pace of development, spoke positively of the economic reforms being implemented and expressed the bank’s interest in further strengthening the partnership.

The Head of State emphasised that Turkmenistan’s socio-economic development strategy is aimed at diversifying the economy, supporting entrepreneurship, producing export-oriented and import-substituting goods, and attracting investment into key sectors.

The Head of State identified energy, transport, the digital economy and environmental protection as priority areas for cooperation with the EBRD. Particular attention was paid to the development of the North–South and East–West international transport corridors, as well as the implementation of projects in the field of ‘green’ energy.

In addition, discussions centred on the development of agriculture, the rational use of water resources and the expansion of cooperation in the banking, financial and transport and logistics sectors.

Following the meeting, the parties expressed their confidence in the further strengthening of the partnership between Turkmenistan and the EBRD and reaffirmed their readiness to develop mutually beneficial cooperation.