President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov chaired a sitting of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan to summarize the last week. The high-ranking officials of the national ministries and departments took part in the sitting.

Opening the sitting the Turkmen leader presented the agenda including the priority issues of the current national policy to provide for further advancement of the national social and economic development programmes in the strategic fields.

Speaker of the Mejlis A. Nurberdieva reported on the work on improvement of the national legislation.

Putting emphasis on the importance of strengthening the legal foundation of the Turkmen state to secure the reforms initiated in the country Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov said that the process of drafting the laws, which were to comply with the realties and international law, should be accelerated.

The President said that the work was dragged on and suggested involving the specialists from various in the work. Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov criticized the work of Chairman of the Chief Tax Service D. Khojaev, who had failed to ensure prompt drafting of the amendments and additions to the statutory and legal acts to improve the national tax system and the national investment policy, to create the most favoured nation treatment and attract foreign investments and advanced technologies to Turkmenistan. The President criticized the work of the State Institute of Law and the Ministry of Justice that had dragged on the preparation of the relevant proposals.

In the context of improvement of the national legislation Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov focused on the necessity of strengthening the institution of archins, who were to play an important role in implementing rural reforms.

Vice Premier, Minister of Foreign Affairs R. Meredov reported on the results of the first meeting of the Turkmen-Indian intergovernmental commission for co-operation. The Turkmen delegation that had taken part in the meeting on the instructions of the President of Turkmenistan held the fruitful talks with the Indian partners, who had demonstrated intense interest in maintaining close and effective partnership with Turkmenistan.

The Turkmen leader approved the agreements reached in New Delhi, in particular the agreement to open the trade houses in both capital cities. The President said that humanitarian co-operation was an key aspect of bilateral collaboration emphasizing that the centuries-old Turkmen-Indian relations were based on the historical and spiritual kinship of the two nations.

Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov that Turkmenistan considered further development of Turkmen-Uzbek partnership, which was brought up to a new level in the modern period, in the similar context. The President said that a meeting of the bilateral intergovernmental commission should be thoroughly prepared for and informed that the Uzbek partners were going to hold a commodity exhibition. The Turkmen leader instructed Vice Premier H. Muhammedov to ensure the proper organisation and holding the exhibition.

Vice Premier, Co-Chairman of the Turkmen-Belarus intergovernmental commission for economic co-operation H. Saparliev reported on the preparations for the meeting of the commission, which would be held in Minsk. Commenting on the report the President said that the Republic of Belarus ranked among Turkmenistan’s large partners supplying high-quality agricultural machinery that had proved its effectiveness under the climatic and soil conditions of Turkmenistan. In this regard the President focused on the contribution that the Turkmen-Belarus intergovernmental commission made to enhancement and intensification of bilateral co-operation on the long-term mutually advantageous basis.

Emphasis was put on training of management personnel able to fulfill effectively and promptly the tasks of intensification of national development and successful integration in international community. The Turkmen leader said that the activity aimed at training young specialist, raising the level of professional skills of high-ranking officials able to apply effective management technique was of particular importance.

Vice Premier, Deputy Chairman of the State Emergency Management Commission G. Ashirov reported on the situation in the Lebap Velayat, in particular the littoral regions of the Amu Darya River. Reporting on the fulfillment of the tasks set by the President of Turkmenistan during his working trip to the Lebap Velayat the Vice Premier informed of the measures taken to prevent possible flooding the littoral settlements.

Commenting on the report Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov focused on special importance to be attached to development of transport and communications hydroengineering infrastructure in the region. Addressing the high-ranking officials present at the sitting Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov demanded that water, power, heat and provisions would be supplied uninterruptedly.

Chairman of the National Hydrometeorology Committee under Cabinet of Ministers K. Yaziev presented the weather report. The President demanded that the weather reports should be regularly published in the mass media.

Acting Chairman of the Turkmenmallary Association D. Begmyradov reported on the work done. In particular, he reported on the decrease in livestock population that had been caused by the severe frosts. The President demanded that the measures to improve the situation would be taken and said that the sector had the resources required for that.

Minister of Railway Transport D. Muhammetguliev reported on the progress of the North-South international transport and communications corridor project. The President demanded that the Uzen-Gyzylgaya-Bereket-Etrek-Gorgan railway project would be accelerated and set the relevant tasks including announcing the international tenders.

Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov emphasized that strict control should be taken of the projects on construction and proper operation of the railways, the quality of passenger and freight services should be improved. The President demanded that the high-ranking officials should ensure interrupted, effective work of the sector as an important component of the national economic infrastructure.

In this context the Turkmen leader criticized the work of the bridge engineering department affiliated with the Ministry of Railway Transport. The President set the particular tasks to Turkmen bridge builders and demanded that the high-ranking officials would take the immediate measures to improve the work and to eliminate the defects.

Vice Premier H. Muhammedov and Chairman of the Central Bank G. Abilov reported on the work done on the instructions of the President of Turkmenistan to regulate the financial activity of the state and sectoral development funds, to ensure strict control of the special-purpose use of the financial resources.

Commenting on the report Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov focused on the new approaches to the national economic development strategy and the fundamental reforms of the national financial and economic mechanism. The President spoke about the necessity of taking strict control, ensuring the special-purpose use of the financial resources that would promote financial rehabilitation of the enterprises manufacturing products competitive on world market and effectively developing the prospective sectors of national economy.

Vice Premier N. Shaguliev reported on the projects on construction of the highways Turkmenbashi-Farab and Ashgabat-Dashoguz

Noting the strategic importance of the highways for national economic development the President instructed to accelerate the construction works.

Vice Premier M. Yazmuhammedova reported on the preparations for the National Flag celebrations.

Executive Director of the Green Belt Open JSC H. Orazsakhedov reported that last season some national ministries and departments had failed to fulfill the planting programmes. Putting emphasis on the importance and ecological benefits of the planting campaign Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov said that each should be inspected and the measures to improve the situation and to carry out the planned works in the spring season should be taken.

The participants of the sitting discussed the priority tasks set to the national oil and gas industry and considered the issues related to implementation of the projects on construction of the Turkmenistan-China gas pipeline and the Caspian gas pipeline. Vice Chairman T. Tagiev reported on the progress of the projects.

Commenting on the report Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov set the particular tasks to the high-ranking officials and specified the measures to implement in full the profound resource potential of the leading sector of Turkmen economy and to achieve the goals of the long-term oil and gas industry development programme and Turkmenistan’s obligations under the international projects and agreements.

Ashgabat Khyakim D. Orazov presented the projects and layout of the bakeries and shopping centre. The President approved in whole the projects aimed at replenishing the network of commercial establishments, satisfying the increased demand for a variety of goods, broadening the range of goods and services.

During the sitting the President issued the documents aimed at fostering national social and economic and cultural development.