Turkmenistan’s large-scale mutually advantageous co-operation with the countries worldwide is a strategic priority of the Turkmen leader’s policy. To implement it the mechanism of an intergovernmental commission for economic co-operation, which has acquired some specific features to date, is employed. Firstly, during the meetings with Turkmenistan’s long-term and new partners the President put forward the initiative to establish the commissions for effectively co-ordinating and promoting economic, scientific, technical and cultural co-operation that regulates and equalizes interstate collaboration. Secondly, the prestige of an intergovernmental commission for economic co-operation was enhanced. During Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov’s visit to Moscow the Turkmen and the Russian leaders agreed that the vice premiers would chair the commission. The top level of chairmanship was ensured for the intergovernmental commissions with Kazakhstan, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Georgia, India, etc. Involvement of the high-ranking officials able to make decisions and highly qualified specialists facilitates and promotes co-ordinating and tackling the issues of co-operation. Thirdly, the forms of activity were diversified along with the traditional talks about the spheres of implementation of the mutual interests they include business forums, exhibitions, project presentation and economic potential. Moreover, the commissions intensified their activity and achieved the remarkable results.

For example, the Turkmen-Japanese commission established 14 years ago proved its effectiveness with the successful projects in the oil and gas industry, textile industry and the spheres of transport, healthcare and land improvement. At the seventh meeting of the Turkmen-Japanese commission for economic co-operation last year taking account the current market conditions and Turkmenistan’s intention to increase steadily hydrocarbon production Co-Chairman Mr. M. Murofusi called for regularly exchanging the economic information and macroeconomic data characteristic of national development of both countries.

Through intensifying the work the Turkmen-Russian commission managed to sustain the interstate trading, economic and cultural relations. Last year the growth rate of the trade turnover exceeded 40 percent. Making the resolute steps towards diversification of bilateral partnership the traditional co-operation in the gas industry was brought up to a higher level and supported by the business interests in other spheres – construction industry, communications, procurement of equipment, etc.

With assistance of the intergovernmental commission the Turkmen-Russian economic forum that significantly contributed to development of bilateral business partnership was held in December. The delegation consisting of the representatives of 50 companies and firms from 17 republics, territories and regions of the Russian Federation including the world’s largest aluminum producer RUSAL, other enterprises specialised in building machinery, producing timber and metal-roll that were of great demand on Turkmen market visited Ashgabat to take part in the forum. Most of the chambers of commerce and industry participating in the forum expressed the readiness to establish partner relations with Turkmen textile workers and ginned cotton suppliers. The Turkmen-Russian commission for economic co-operation achieved the remarkable results, for example it accelerated elaboration of the tripartite Agreement on implementation of the large-scale project Caspian gas pipeline construction initiated by Turkmenistan and promoted signing it in Moscow on December 20.

The first meeting of the Turkmen-Indian intergovernmental commission for trade and economic, scientific and technological co-operation was held in New Delhi this January. The Turkmen delegation conducted the fruitful talks with the Indian partners, who expressed keen interest in establishing close and effective partner relations with Turkmenistan. The agreements reached during the meeting included the decision to open the trade houses in the capital cities of both countries. The Turkmen-Indian commission will promote distributing the information about modern Turkmenistan in India. The effective economic and humanitarian relations with this great country can enrich the traditional ties based on the historical and spiritual kinship of the two nations.

Nowadays, our relations with the close neighbours and partners from the former Soviet Union are filled with a new content. The people and guests of the Turkmen capital visited the recent exhibition organised by the Uzbek partners with assistance of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan. It was held within the framework of the meeting of the Turkmen-Uzbek intergovernmental commission for economic co-operation to discuss the new steps towards renewal and intensification of bilateral co-operation. The meeting of the Turkmen-Belarusian commission for economic co-operation, which plays an important role in strengthening and increasing bilateral collaboration based on long-term mutually advantageous partnership, was held in Minsk late January. The Republic of Belarus is one of Turkmenistan’s large partners delivering agricultural equipment required to implement the complex programme on development of rural areas and agricultural industry initiated by President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov.

The first meeting of the Turkmen-Tajik intergovernmental commission for co-operation was held in Ashgabat this February to discuss the priority trends of bilateral economic and cultural co-operation as well as the supply of Turkmen energy as the humanitarian aid of the Turkmen people to the fraternal nation in this severe winter.

The bilateral commissions for economic co-operation are also established with the new partners from Europe. During the visit of the Austrian delegation led by the Federal Minister of Economy and Labour of the Republic of Austria to Turkmenistan the partners called for searching for the effective forms of economic and humanitarian co-operation within the framework of the intergovernmental Turkmen-Austrian commission. The Austrian partners suggested holding the first meeting and the presentation of Turkmenistan’s economic potential in Vienna in the first half of 2008. Thus, a bilateral intergovernmental commission for economic co-operation becomes an effective mechanism for implementing the national strategy.