During the first in their history democratic presidential elections on February 11, 2007 the Turkmen people elected the national leader – Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. This event is a vivid evidence of the triumph of national democracy, inscribed in golden letters as the beginning of the new epoch – the epoch of national revival in the national history.

Succession and consistency, regularity and expediency, resoluteness and innovating are the distinguishing characteristics the Turkmen leader set to the on-going processes in the country. Devotion to the strategy chosen at the dawn of independence ranks among the new goals though adjustment of this strategy, detection of the weak points is compulsory for any resolute advance – to the economic and social welfare of the society and the state. The tasks requiring the innovative solutions and measures to activate the profound resource and intellectual potential of the nation are on today’s agenda.

Having declared the national interests to be the priority of national development the Turkmen leader not only pursued the course of the reforms aiming to renovate all spheres of the life of the Turkmen society, to modernize the state he proves his adherence to the chosen way by the deeds, task-oriented plans every day and every hour.

The tremendous work, the will of the man, who assumed the responsibility of leading the people in the difficult historical period and bringing the country to a new stage of development avoiding shocks and responding to modern challenges, the achievements of civilization and progress marking the third millennium, underlie the endeavours.

Over 16 years of independence and last year in particular the Turkmen people proved to the international community and, what is more important, to themselves that they were able to live independently, to tackle the global-scale problems, that they had the capability for creative, constructive labour. That is confirmed by the stable GDP growth rate, and in particular the national fuel and energy sector, dozens of hydrocarbon deposits discovered by Turkmen prospectors, explored and developed by Turkmen oil and gas industry workers, our petrochemical industry satisfying the domestic needs in oil products and exporting a broad range of products worldwide, the textile industry built from nothing and manufacturing the goods of great demand all over the world. The wonderful architectural ensemble adorning the Turkmen capital and the cities in the ancient Turkmen land, the plants and factories, which sprung throughout the country, the medical and cultural centres – the vivid evidence of the accomplishments distinguishing development of the Turkmen state that has made a great breakthrough over the years of its sovereignty and is striving for the new heights of civilization and progress.

Last week defined the vector of Turkmenistan’s progressive advance for the most part

Combining the theory and practice, the ideas and solutions the leader of Turkmenistan clearly defined the priorities and prospects of further national development. First of all, these include modernization and diversification of national economy. Establishment of the network of transnational transportation links – gas pipelines, highways and railways, sea and air routes, oil and gas processing industries, textile enterprises, strong construction industry and agro-industrial sector, free economic zones including tourism zones, mutually advantageous international co-operation, attraction of foreign investments, fundamental reconstruction of the economic management mechanism, introduction of the simple, flexible and effective planning system based on the thorough macro and micro industrial analysis and accurate calculations, enhancement of the market relations, the state support to private sector - these and other measures recommended by the Turkmen leader will enable to ensure the effective use of the huge natural resources – oil and gas, mineral resources for chemical, construction and other industries, which the Turkmen land is rich in, to take advantage of the favourable geopolitical location and specific climatic conditions, to export Turkmen energy resources and domestically-manufactured goods to world market.

The President said that improving the national legislation, bringing it in compliance with the international law was the tasks of paramount importance. The important tasks include financial recovery of national economy, strengthening the Turkmen manat. The national industrial infrastructure is closely interrelated with implementation of the social development programmes. Thus, the transition to market economy should be successive and phased with the strong state sector and government control called upon to ensure balanced development of particular sectors and regions as well as the state support for the private – entrepreneurial – initiatives of the economic subjects of all patterns of ownership.

Stating that the modern model of the national social and economic development should be based on the economic accomplishments achieved during the years of independence Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov emphasized that the ultimate goal of the reforms implemented in the country was the wellbeing of the people, their spiritual and intellectual development. Confirming that citizens of Turkmenistan would use free gas, water, electric power and salt till 2030 Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov informed that the state would steadily increase the investments in education, healthcare, cultural and professional development of the people, in other words ‘human capital’.

It is natural that the reforms in the spheres of education and healthcare were the first on the way of the reforms initiated by the Turkmen leader. The President of Turkmenistan considered the National Programme on improvement of the social and living conditions in villages, settlements, towns in etraps and etrap centres till 2020 a priority, which will guarantee an access to the comforts of civilizations to rural population. The medical centres, schools equipped with multimedia technologies, kindergartens and recreation centres are under construction throughout the country, the modern resort infrastructure is being created on the Caspian Sea coast, in Archman, Bayramali, Mollakara, Geokdere and Archabil.

The nationwide elected President firmly believes in his people’s reforming power, believes in each of us. Our civil duty, the duty dictated by the electoral rights incorporated in our life on the waves of changes is to respond to these changes with an active social position, co-participation in the great endeavours of the Motherland.