Turkmenistan-Croatia: towards expanding bilateral co-operation

Ashgabat hosted the first Turkmen-Croatian business forum held in the framework of Croatian President Stjepan Mesic’s official visit to Turkmenistan. The leader of the friendly state and the members of the Croatian government delegation gathered together in the conference hall of the President Hotel in Ashgabat. The delegation represented Croatia’s large business circles such as the Croatian Chamber of Economy, the companies: CROSCO, INA, JADRANSKI NAFTOVOD, Ericsson Nikola Tesla Company – a branch of the world’s telecommunication giant Ericsson, and INGRA Joint Stock.

Turkmenistan was represented by the specialists of the national ministries and departments including the Ministry of Economy and Development, the Ministry of Oil and Gas Industry and Mineral Resources, the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Communications, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Motor Transport, the Union of Manufacturers and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan.

Addressing the welcoming statement to the participants Vice Premier, Minister of Foreign Affairs R. Meredov emphasized that this forum continued the Turkmen-Croatian top level talks, which had resulted in signing the documents aimed at considerably intensifying and expanding the intergovernmental dialogue. R. Meredov noted that the forum was held against the background of the notably intensified dialogue between Turkmenistan and the European countries prioritizing the relations with the Republic of Croatia.

Addressing the forum the President of the Republic of Croatia expressed belief that the first business forum in the history of the Turkmen-Croatian relations would be a reference point in development of bilateral mutually advantageous co-operation. Stjepan Mesic said that an important factor in this process was the reciprocal willingness to develop full-scale partnership.

The Croatian leader said that much was yet to be done to achieve these goals. Stjepan Mesic noted that the current trade turnover between Turkmenistan and Croatia did not conform to the countries’ needs and potential and informed of the top level agreement to draft the basic agreements on economic co-operation, in particular to avoid double taxation, to encourage and protect investments.

The Croatian leader said that the vast opportunities were provided in such fields of intergovernmental co-operation as oil and gas industry, transport and communication, tourism, industrial and civil engineering, pharmaceutical industry, electrical engineering, rail carriage building. Moreover, the Croatian President stated the opportunity of holding the trade fairs in Ashgabat and Zagreb presenting the two countries’ economic and industrial potential.

A film about Turkmenistan and its economic potential, in particular the project on creation of the national tourism zone on the ecologically pure Turkmen coast of the Caspian Sea, the large-scale programmes on development of the national fuel and energy complex, the opportunities in the banking sphere and investments was demonstrated to the guests.

President of the Croatian Chamber of Economy Nadan Vidosevic, Vice Chairman Vesna Trnokop-Tanta, Vice Director General of INA Naftaplin Nico Dalic, CEO of Ericsson Nikola Tesla Gordana Kovasevic, President of CROSCO Bojan Milkovic and JANAF Board member Vladimir Vrankovic presented the Croatian partners’ economic potential.

Summing up the forum the participants stated that there was a broad field for fruitful intergovernmental collaboration and reaffirmed the mutual interest in enhancing co-operation for the benefit and wellbeing of the two friendly countries and nations.