President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov made a working trip to the Dashoguz Velayat. The high-ranking officials and the community of the northern region of the country cordially greeted the Turkmen leader at the Dashoguz airport.

Greeting all those present and thanking for the heartfelt welcome Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov led a conversation with the local elders and got interested in the things were going in the region, the standards of living in Dashoguz and how they had spent the New Year’s celebrations. Noting that the Dashoguz Velayat had the profound economic potential as well as the considerable opportunities for development of industrial and agricultural production the Turkmen leader expressed belief that in 2008 the diligent people of Dashoguz would make a profound contribution to implementation of the large-scale reforms replenishing the wealth of the native land, the blessed Turkmen land. The President emphasized that the government would continue to care of the welfare of citizens, to provide every support to diligent workers, who enhanced the economic strength of the Motherland.

The President said that the important aspects of the national social and economic policy included construction of comfortable apartment houses for the citizens of Turkmenistan. With this aim in view the decision to expand considerably the benefits for those willing to buy apartments. Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov said that the government had been instructed to ensure the provision of the benefits to all citizens of the country irrespectively of the place of residence – urban or rural areas.

Then Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov flied around the Gyorogly Etrap. In the region the Turkmen leader had a meeting with the hydraulic builders engaged in widening the Shasenem canal.

Leading the frank conversation with the hydraulic builders Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov asked about the working and living conditions, the rate of their wages and salaries. The President inspected the specialized machines engaged in the construction works in the region. The machines were manufactured by the world’s leading producers

The machine operators expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Turkmen leader for the tireless concern and support for water industry workers of Turkmenistan. The President instructed Dashoguz Khyakim S. Ashirov to create the favourable conditions for hydraulic builders and accelerate the construction works basing on its importance for developing the virgin lands, expanding agricultural plantations and increasing the agricultural output. Speaking about the cotton sowing campaign Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov instructed to promptly supply water to the farmers’ fields.

Then the helicopter with the President headed for Dashoguz. Flying around the Gyorogly Etrap the Turkmen leader asked about the conditions of the fields sown with various agricultural crops in the region.

Flying around the administrative centre of the Dashoguz Velayat Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov inspected the progress of the works in the important construction sites. At present, a number of the important socially oriented projects aimed at further development of the region and increasing the welfare of the people. These included the Ashgabat-Karakum-Dashoguz highway, the Ruhiyet Palace, the Child’s and Maternity Care Centre, a school, a kindergarten and a stadium, the building of the agricultural higher educational establishment. Putting emphasis on the significance of the projects the Turkmen leader gave the relevant instructions to the local high-ranking officials. Then the Turkmen leader inspected the progress of the construction works on the Dashoguz-Karakaum-Ashgabat highway.

The Turkmen leader had a meeting with the road builders at the 68-km section of the highway. As it is known, the President took strict control of implementation of the important construction projects. The Turkmen leader attached paramount importance to strengthening the material and technical basis of the road construction industry and replenishment and renewal of the fleet of road-building machinery with the equipment and machines produced by the world’s leading companies including Caterpillar, Komatsu, MAZ, KamAZ.

Thanking the President for the tireless concern and support the road builders said that they would spare no effort to accelerate pace of works.

Noting that the people of Dashoguz had been always known as the best builders, whose work was remarkable for the high quality, the Turkmen leader put emphasis on the importance of employing the human resources in full in the region through creating the favourable opportunities for local specialists to develop the professional skills. The President said that this goal could be achieved through establishing the small and medium scale enterprises, creating new jobs for local specialists. Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov emphasized that the work should be started immediately not to waste time that completely conformed to the course of the reforms initiated throughout the country

At the 68-km section of the highway under construction the Turkmen leader had a meeting with the top managers of the Turkish construction companies – Sehil, Gylych and Mak engaged in the projects on construction of a drinking water plant in Dashoguz, the building of the agricultural higher educational establishment, the medical centre and stadium. Focusing on the importance of the projects for successful implementation of the social and economic reforms in the country the President showed intense interest in the progress of the construction works and set the task to accelerate the construction works to the high-ranking officials.

The top managers of the Turkish companies cordially thanked Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov for affording the honour to collaborate in the large-scale reforms programmes implemented throughout Turkmenistan and assure the Turkmen leader that their companies would spare no effort to complete the projects promptly.

Then the helicopter with the President headed for the Dashoguz airport. Flying around the Gurbansoltan Eje Etrap, Akdepe Etrap, Boldumsaz Etrap and Gubadag Etrap the President asked about the conditions of the agricultural fields. Dashoguz had always played an important role in national economy. The northern region is the home land to the renowned farmers, who glorified the ancient and fertile land with their diligent labour. In the epoch of new revival they were going to make their contribution to implementation of the programmes on development of rural areas and intensification of agricultural production.

The Turkmen leader had a cordial meeting at the airport of the administrative centre of the Dashoguz Velayat. Summing up the working trip to the Dashoguz Velayat Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov gave instructions to the Dashoguz Velayat Khyakim. The Turkmen leader emphasized that development of the processing facilities using the local raw materials should be intensified through establishing new enterprises and production facilities as well. That would promote creating new jobs especially for the youth in the region. The President said that the ultimate goal was to increase the welfare of the people focusing on expansion of housing construction in the region. Touching upon the issues related to the agricultural reform implemented throughout the country Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov demanded that the winter crop plantations should cared properly and the cotton sowing campaign should be conducted promptly. Noting that the substantial funds were allocated for development of the national agro-industrial sector, which had to bring profit, the Turkmen leader said that a success depended on the high-ranking officials’ managerial abilities as well. Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov instructed the high-ranking officials to provide every possible support to farmers, to meet farmers’ needs and concerns in order to manage the work properly. Upon concluding the meeting the President wished the people of Dashoguz wellbeing and new labour accomplishments.

In the afternoon Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov returned to Ashgabat.