Ï Caspian region is the territory of cooperation
mail-icon
altynasyr.newspaper@sanly.tm
EN RU TK

Caspian region is the territory of cooperation

view-icon 2786
Transport communications of the international value in the Caspian region are capable to provide today as much as possible effective messages between extending Euro-Atlantic and Asian-Pacific markets. At present, the Caspian region acquires for Turkmenistan increasing value. On the one hand, presence of considerable natural resources on scales: fuel and energy, fishing, agroclimatic, recreational, and on the other hand - favorable transport-geographical position can become a basis for escalating of manufacture and expansion of trade and economic cooperation with foreign countries.

The shortest ways connecting the Central Asian region with the countries of Europe, India and Pakistan, the states of Indian Ocean basin pass across the Caspian sea. Today there are objective preconditions to transformation of Caspian sea and its coastal territories into the important transit centre of trade barter, through which Turkmenistan, Iran, Uzbekistan, the Western China, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, other countries having restrictions on exit to ocean communications, will trade with Europe.

Considering it, Turkmenistan within the limits of strategic and intermediate term programs assumes to make active realization of measures on development of national sea transport potential by criteria of reliability, competitiveness and quality of service of goods traffic. Thus, the special role in maintenance of stability of world economic communications and national strategy of participation in the international division of labour will be obtained by development of own merchant marine fleet and further modernization of seaport infrastructure. The project of modernization of Turkmenbashi seaport is urged to recover foreign trade and to accelerate economic growth of Turkmenistan.


Export-import, transit, as well as cargoes having economic value, oil and oil products, industrial and construction equipment, etc. are transported by Turkmenbashi international seaport. Intensity of goods’ traffic through harbour during last years, has considerably increased. In 2009 capacity of Turkmenbashi seaport was estimated by experts equivalent to 7 million tons, and real transfer constituted 6 million tons. In 2012 capacity of port has grown to 9,2 million tons, and real transfer increased by 8,5 million tons. More than 40 % (2015) of foreign trade cargoes are transported today by Turkmenbashi port.

Increase of level of competitiveness of domestic sea transport will be possible at the expense of strengthening of innovative component in development of sea transportation, its equipment with the newest means, progressive technologies, modern electronic control systems of technological and information processes, fleet updating. Besides, an actual problem is updating of hoisting-and-transport equipment. The special role will play further such mechanisms as creation of technological platforms and formation of regional-territorial cluster on the basis of seaport.

During cardinal reconstruction of the Turkmenbashi international seaport navigating channels there will be expanded and deepened, the railway ferry will be improved. The auto passenger terminal which creation will give possibility for fuller satisfaction of demand for transportation of cargoe and passengers will be built up anew, and this will lead to increase of transit cargoes.

Today ferry communication is carried out only by CASPCOM (Azerbaijan) that does not satisfy growing requirements of cargo transportation. Besides, it is necessary to consider that with development of the National tourist zone of "Avaza", a considerable stream of tourists from the next Near-Caspian states is expected.


The logistical centre with separate dry-cargo moorings for processing of export and import cargo will become the largest object in industrial structure of the seaport. The terminal of loose cargo on transfer of cement made in our country, a carbamide and the container terminal will enter centre structure. A control tower will be constructed for operational administration of navigation and monitoring of water area ecological safety of port.

Upon termination of construction the port goods turnover will increase twice, and its throughput will exceed 17 million tons a year. Thus, the total sum of investments into branch will make about 1,5 billion US dollars. In parallel with port building the big work on professional training for sailing charter branch, as well as improvement of professional skills and training of the personnel, profile experts as in Turkmenistan, and abroad will be carried out.

In the context of transformation of the Caspian sea and its coastal zones - this major geostrategic region - into the trade barter centre among all coastal states there arises a question of optimization of available transport communications, as well as further development of a transport infrastructure according to requirements of the international quality standards. The theme of modernization of a seaport infrastructure and development of sea transport is actual today not only for Turkmenistan, but also for Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Russia and Iran. Not less important issue demanding the decision is the legal status of the sea-lake. It is necessary to note that after the fourth Caspian summit which has taken place in May, 2014 in Astrakhan, real motions were outlined in this question.

The Central Asian region countries are united not only geographically, they have general cultural, political and economic history, and today they all face general problems on transformation of system of the government in the direction of integration and more effective development of transport complex of the states. It demands joint decision of majority of issues, such as - reduction of the material inputs suffered in the course of delivery of cargo on foreign markets, optimization and decrease in costs on way of movement of the goods, as well as construction of competent logistical deliveries chain.

President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, noting the importance of development of transport communications for activization of economic and commercial relations in regional and continental scale, consolidation of efforts, underlines invariable aspiration of neutral Turkmenistan to contribute to adjustment of uninterrupted transport service between the region states.