Ashgabat is the heart of the country where the threads of its international relations, transport and communication links stretch to as if blood arteries, the centre of the political, business and cultural life of the nation. Our white-marble capital changes with the every passing day, and to imagine what it will look like in five years seems quite impossible. Nevertheless, the Conception on social and economic development of the Turkmen capital in 2008-2012 approved by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov during the sitting of the Cabinet of Ministers on July 21 could be the time machine bringing us to Ashgabat-2012.

Elaborated by the Ministry of Economy and Development the Conception based on the social, economic and cultural achievements of Ashgabat sets forth the basic trends in further development with the focus on the best international standards. The document is comprehensive for its interrelation with the general strategy for development of the country and particular regions as well as the coverage of all spheres of the life in the megalopolis – industry, transport and communication, construction, consumer market, financial and banking system, entrepreneurial activity, education, science, health care, housing and communal services, tourism, sport and physical culture, environment. Development of the Turkmen capital is viewed in focus of the national programmes initiated by the President as the nucleus of the progressive tendencies – market reforms, foundation of innovation and science-intensive industries, creation of the comfortable social and cultural, living and ecological environment and developed human capital.

The chief aim of the Conception is to ensure such a development that will make Ashgabat one of the most beautiful cities of the world, turn it into one of the political, economic, cultural and scientific centres. It stipulates for maintaining diversified urban economy, achieving balanced development of industry, transport, sciences and scientific services, personnel training, tourism and business activity (finances, credit, insurance, wholesale trade, real assets, information system, communication) prioritizing the industries requiring innovations. Thus, scientific and research institutions, innovation centres and industrial parks will be provided with further support and assistance. Enterprises producing consumer goods will be built in the capital, wholesale marketplaces, cash dispensers, automatic cash terminals, department stores and shopping centres accepting credit cards will appear in the suburbs. It planned to achieve the high rates of cash income growth per capita, regular advance of wages conditioned by rise of labour productivity. Particular significance is attached to achieving the high level of employment, encouraging entrepreneurial activity, small and medium businesses, etc.

Ashgabat’s economy relies on innovative trends, high technology manufacture and services oriented to both domestic and international markets. Based on the best international practice of founding a technology town the Conception justifies the necessity of developing such industries as manufacture of electric equipment, assembly of computer equipment and domestic appliances, expansion of software support services , manufacture of high-quality plastic materials, solar-assisted equipment, heating and cooling air conditioners, pharmacological products in Ashgabat. To achieve this purpose joint ventures with the famous foreign companies will be founded. Dozens of emerging enterprises in private ownership targeting the domestic demand will be established in food and clothing industries

Ashgabat performs the important function of a transport nodal point connecting with the economic regions of Turkmenistan as well as the states of Middle East, Central Asia, Far East and Europe. In 2008-2012 construction of such highways as Ashgabat-Mary-Turkmenabat, Ashgabat-Dashoguz, Ashgabat-Turkmenbashi will be completed. The highways of national importance will meet the international standards. A number of intracity routes will be increased in Ashgabat to improve the quality of transport services. For these purposes hundreds of buses including comfortable intercity buses and auto taxi of modern modifications will be purchased. The computer-aided, machine-operated Logistics Centre connected via the internet and telephone communication with different parts of the world will ensure the efficiency of cargo transportation service will be responsible for dispatching, receiving and delivering goods to clients. It is planned to replenish the fleet of railway carriages and aircrafts and the reconstructed railway station and airport in Ashgabat will offer the whole spectrum of services and comfort.

In the next five years the fundamental reforms will be implemented in such a rapidly developed sphere as communication. Till the end of 2012 the TM Cell cellular network will be expanded by 250,000 telephone numbers, the telephone exchanges for 95,200 telephone numbers will be constructed and 247,000 users more will get an access to the internet network in Turkmenistan, the on-air TV and radio broadcasting network in the territory of Turkmenistan will be reconstructed. Communication quality will meet the international standards. Broad choice of mobile services and telephone modifications will be offered to subscribers. The TV tower will be built in the south of the Turkmen capital at the foothills of the Kopetdag Mountains. It is planned to modernize the existing channels and to purchase equipment for TV Channel 5.

The construction sector of Ashgabat is developed through widely involving the local state-run and private construction companies in the urban development programme, developing the competitive construction materials industry. It is planned to found the corporate construction companies combining various patterns of ownership. The recent Resolution of the President of Turkmenistan on construction of 35 apartment houses totalled over US$ 100 million in Ashgabat and Abadan has initiated the large-scale housing programme which at the following stages will promote saturating the housing market with dwellings of various types – from comfortable apartments in the housing blocks and elite high-rise houses to free-standing cottages with courtyards and underground garages.

Developing and expanding the network of the enterprises producing consumer goods, improving the quality and expanding the scope of services rendered to the population are a priority trend of the Conception. Therefore, dozens of marketplaces, large shopping centres and public service establishments will be constructed nearby newly-constructed houses in Ashgabat. The consumer market development strategy stipulates for creating the united system providing the population with high-quality goods and services, bringing shopping technologies up to the European standards, expanding tourism services market and applying widely the cashless payment systems, considerably increasing the amount of consumer credits.

The strategy for development of international economic co-operation and attraction of foreign investments demands reorganization of the banking sphere to comply with international requirements. Ashgabat plays the key role in encouraging various forms of crediting and expanding the range of bank transfers of funds. In the next five years it is planned to provide a considerable amount of credits to the private sector of urban economy with the focus on the investment projects aimed at creating within the city the enterprises in production and services sectors.

In Ashgabat 34 pre-school establishment will be under construction that will enable to create 5,600 seats in kindergartens additionally, 36 secondary schools for 500 and 600 schoolchildren will be built within the period of 2008-2012. All of these educational establishments will be supplied with multimedia equipment and interactive technologies. The school will specialized in the particular school disciplines. There will be the network of specialized secondary schools, the buildings and hostels of the educational establishments created in the city. Along with the traditional trends such as strengthening the material and technical basis of educational and research institutions the education and science development strategy stipulates for raising funds from the private sector of national economy and attracting foreign investments to finance the national education system, creating the national innovation sector with the focus on collaboration of science and industry, creating the relevant infrastructure (innovation centres, business incubators, education centres

The considerable changes are expected in the healthcare system. Along with development of the institution of family medicine it is planned to put into operation a number of specialized medical centres, to apply advanced medical technologies, attracting well-experienced specialists from abroad to provide highly qualified consultations and manage diseases. The healing natural resources that the suburban zone is rich in will be used and the network of world-class health-improving and rehabilitation centres will be created to enhance prevention and health-improving activities.

The sports and physical culture development action plan stipulating for wide involvement of local population, first of all, children in sports activities will promote improving the health of citizens of Ashgabat will be implemented in the period. Sport facilities will be built in immediate proximity to the housing estates. 5 sports schools for future Olympic competitors and the Olympic village will be constructed in Ashgabat in 2008-2012. The large-scale activities – planting of trees and flowers, laying parks, public gardens, constructing fountains and other facilities producing the positive ecological impact will preserve the healthy environment in the city. The forest belt in the suburbs will be extended. Reconstruction of the gas and water supply and sewerage systems in the city will be continued in 2008-2012.

President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov’s open door policy and progressive reforms have arouse a surge of interest in Turkmenistan worldwide creating incentives to develop very promising and first-priority tourism industry. In this regard Ashgabat’s role as the country’s visit card is considerably significant. Therefore, the Conception stipulates for developing tourism infrastructure, creating tourism services market as well as attracting foreign investments in Turkmenistan’s tourism industry.

Such is an outline of Ashgabat’s development in 2008-2012. The future could be much better than any grandiose plans and bold expectations though, and if people believe in it and work diligently to make it their present.