National Spring Holiday - Novruz Bayramy declaring the eternal triumph of the life in its invariably creative essence came to the blessed Turkmen land. Perhaps, this year to be an important stage in the history of Great revival of the Turkmen nation the people of Turkmenistan has prepared for the holiday with enthusiasm and inspiration as never before.

Having set the clear aim - “the state for the people” President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov with innate resoluteness pursues consistently and purposefully the strategic policy of reforms building the solid economic foundation of Turkmenistan’s wellbeing, the high standards of living. That is vividly evidenced by the last week, during which the new steps aimed at promoting the fulfillment of the key tasks such as structural reconstruction of national economy, enhancement of market relations, development of mutually advantageous international co-operation were made.

Last week the Law “On Foreign Investments” and the Law “On Amendments and Additions to the Tax Code of Turkmenistan” came into force. Responding to the realities and requirements of the modern period, the best standards and norms of international law the new legislative acts will, undoubtedly, ensure direct economic efficiency. The Law “On Foreign Investments” creates the legal basis of the activity of foreign investors and foreign investment enterprises in the territory of Turkmenistan, provides the firm guarantees of protection of the rights of foreign investors and thus, serves as an effective mechanism of attracting foreign investments, advanced technologies, latest scientific and technical innovations to the country.

The Law “On Amendments and Additions to the Tax Code of Turkmenistan” serving as an effective economic instrument of encouraging the private sector introduced a number of the substantial amendments and additions to the Tax Code of Turkmenistan. Aimed at further improvement of the tax system this document is called upon to offer the class of private commodity producers manufacturing a broad range of high-quality goods able to compete on the national and foreign markets.

The issues of development of entrepreneurial activity as an integral element of market economy were put on the agenda of the recent enlarged sitting of the Cabinet of Ministers. President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said that the Government would provide every possible support to the private sector that produced over 40 percent of the GDP nowadays. Though, it was not far enough, the President noted emphasizing that all over the world entrepreneurship stood as an engine of reforms, a factor of sustainable development ensuring employment, the growth of real income of population as well as the growth of the so-called middle class that testified to the welfare of a country.

Highlighting the private sector’s profound investment potential Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov focused on an opportunity to design in the nearest future a mechanism to involve it in implementing the large-scale projects such as the Avaza National Project, the programme on development of rural areas and others implemented at the national level. It concerned the priority spheres and sectors for national economy. A specific step in this field was the Resolution of the President of Turkmenistan aimed at supporting the investment business projects. The banks Daykhan, Senagat and Garagum are authorized to give the credits for implementation of the business ideas in such sectors as agriculture, industry, transport, communications as well as introduction and use of information technologies, innovations, development of a broad range of services. The President’s suggestion on establishment of the Union of Manufacturers and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan was unanimously supported by the participants of the sitting and the private businessmen.

The sitting was held at the Exhibition Centre that housed the Exhibition of goods manufactured by private commodity producers that brought together over 200 private firms, enterprises and commodity producers. The people and guests of the Turkmen capital received the comprehensive information on the achievements, potential and prospective action plans on growth and development of entrepreneurial activity in Turkmenistan. The two-day exhibition covered a broad range of goods and services offered by Turkmen private entrepreneurs to the people of Turkmenistan in various sectors including construction, construction materials, food, textile, clothing industries, furniture production, education, tourism, sport and physical culture, advertising, printing industry and communications and the traditional national handicrafts.

Turkmenistan is taking great strides forward to the ultimate goal - a strong, prosperous state that will occupy a worthy place in the international community. Forming the new development model is an endeavour to activate the vital forces of the nation, without which any advancement is impossible. Therefore, Turkmenistan’s prestige was inseparable from President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, who had initiated the policy of wide international co-operation and good neighbourliness drawing a positive response all over the world and strengthened by the effective mechanism of practical collaboration.

The important issues of further implementation of Turkmenistan’s foreign policy strategy were discussed during the meeting of the President with the Turkmen diplomats. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov stated that Turkmenistan was always open for all forms of positive, fruitful, mutually advantageous co-operation putting emphasis on significance attached to collaboration in maintaining peace and security, establishing the respectful, equal relations with the countries worldwide, partnership with the leading international organisations and business circles.

Turkmenistan’s favourable geopolitical location at an intersection of the transport and transit routes opens the vast opportunities for intensifying wide mutually advantageous co-operation. In this regard the profound energy potential that Turkmenistan adhering to the principles of multi-variant energy export to world market intended placing at the service of mankind was a crucial factor. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said that Turkmenistan regarded this trend as a priority of its long-term geopolitical strategy.

On this context - effective implementation of Turkmenistan’s foreign policy strategy at a new historical stage improvement of diplomatic education and training in the country is of current importance. For this purpose in accordance with the Decree of the President of Turkmenistan the Institute of International Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan was established. The newly-established institution of higher education will train highly qualified specialists in such disciplines as international affairs, international economic relations, international journalism.

Heading for integration into the world community the Turkmen leader builds the active and constructive intergovernmental dialogue with the nearest and remote neighbouring countries in order to expand mutually advantageous economic and humanitarian co-operation. In this regard the Turkmen-Turkish relations to be offered a powerful incentive to develop during Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov’s official visit to the Republic of Turkey, is significant.

Obviously, the Turkmen leader’s prudent, well-balanced approach to the foreign economic policy based on the principles of mutually advantageous partnership and meeting the national interests attracts more and more foreign partners to investment projects. Thus, the delegation from the Astrakhan Oblast - the largest region of the Russian Federation visited Turkmenistan last week. The talks and meetings at the Presidential Palace, the national ministries and departments resulted in signing the Agreement on Trade and Economic, Scientific and Technical and Cultural Co-operation between the Government of Turkmenistan and the Government of the Astrakhan Oblast specifying the promising fields of collaboration - transport, construction, oil and gas, fishing industries, shipbuilding and tourism.

The Russian guests, who visited Ashgabat and Turkmenbashi town, showed intense interest in co-operation in the sphere of transport, in particular the opportunities of establishing the ferry communication between the two largest seaports on the Caspian Sea - Turkmenbashi and Olia. Astrakhan Oblast Governor Aleksander Zhilkin said that the large-scale projects implemented in Turkmenistan such as the Avaza National Project providing the vast opportunities for developing tourism and co-operation in creating modern seaport infrastructure, training highly qualified specialists for Turkmenistan’s marine were attractive for Russia’s business circles.

By the way, the new projects aimed at developing transport facilities and other fields were launched last week. These include the contract for major overhaul of the Turkmenistan and the Magtymguly bulk carriers with the Russian partners, the contract for design and construction of 90 bridges on the highways Ashgabat-Turkmenbashi, Ashgabat-Mary, Turkmenabat-Farab, Ashgabat-Karakum-Dashoguz with Turkish NET Company, the contract for procurement of agricultural machines for rural areas, etc.

The investment projects, grandiose undertakings and reforms - behind is not only the impressive amounts and contracts but also the great power of labour and participation in the common cause. Responding to the Turkmen leader’s call to make the native land more beautiful, to turn it into blossoming garden thousands of people with great enthusiasm and desire joined in the wide-scale planting action. Little time will pass and the young trees they planted will grow, new green zones will beautify the blessed Turkmen land, which has entered the epoch of its new - great Revival.