Doha: The state visit of President of the Republic of Turkmenistan H E Serdar Berdimuhamedow comes within the framework of the distinguished and good relations between the two countries and their friendly peoples.
Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani will meet on Monday with HE the Turkmen President to discuss bilateral relations between the two countries and ways to support and enhance them.
Also, H H the Amir and President H E Serdar Berdimuhamedow will witness the signing of several agreements and memorandums of understanding, in addition to discussing several issues of common concern.
H E the Turkmen President’s visit to Qatar reflects the depth of relations between the two friendly countries and the common desire to develop these relations and enhance them to broader horizons to serve the aspirations of their two friendly peoples and achieve peace, stability, and prosperity in the region and the world.
The two countries have distinguished and friendly relations characterized by stability and are based on a spirit of understanding and mutual respect and a common desire to develop and advance these relations. The diplomatic relations between the two sides were established in 1996, ambassadors were exchanged between the two countries at the level of a non-resident ambassador, and the Embassy of the State of Qatar was opened in Turkmenistan on 12/24/2014.
In December 2022, a presidential decision was issued to open a resident embassy for Turkmenistan in Doha, following the visit of HE President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedow to the State of Qatar in response to the invitation of the Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani to attend part of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 matches. Since Turkmenistan’s independence, mutual visits between officials of the two countries have continued at various levels, which reflects the extent of mutual care, interest, and a common desire to strengthen cooperation relations and raise the level of partnership and coordination between the two parties in many areas of common interest. The relations between Qatar and Turkmenistan have witnessed a growing development, especially after the visit of the former President of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, to the State of Qatar in 2010.
In 2016, H H the Amir paid a state visit to Turkmenistan, followed by an official visit by the former Turkmen President to the State of Qatar in 2017. There are about 17 agreements that regulate relations between the two sides in various fields, especially the political, economic, commercial, cultural, and sports fields, and in the sectors of energy and investment, transportation, tourism, education, culture, and air transport.
The State of Qatar and Turkmenistan maintain good relations in the political and diplomatic field through the exchange of support in international forums and political consultations between the foreign ministries of the two countries, with the latest consultation round held in Doha at the level of deputy foreign ministers in October 2022. In February 2022, a virtual meeting was organized between the directors of diplomatic institutes in the two countries to discuss matters of cooperation in many areas.
The State of Qatar and Turkmenistan have trade and economic relations with the visits of trade delegations, the meetings of the Qatari-Turkmen joint committee, the Qatari-Turkmen businessmen forum, and the Qatar and Turkmenistan chambers have helped in strengthening and deepening relations between the two countries in various fields, especially economic, trade, investment and industrial.
The private sector in the two countries can play its role in developing trade relations between the two countries through cooperation between Qatari and Turkmen companies and the establishment of effective partnerships and economic alliances that benefit the economies of the two countries, especially with the enormous potentials available to both parties as they are among the most prominent global markets in the field of oil and gas.
The Qatari market is considered a promising and attractive market, open to all foreign investment, and has an abundance of opportunities in most economic sectors.
The State of Qatar is the world’s largest natural gas exporter, possessing a world-class infrastructure, economic legislation and laws encouraging investment, Free zones providing wide opportunities, and making it on global competitiveness indicators, confirming being an ideal environment for investment and business startups. Qatari businesspersons show remarkable interest in learning about investment opportunities in Turkmenistan, a natural resources-rich country, inviting joint investment agreements and understandings, particularly in tourism, sports, real estate, agriculture, and food, especially since the State of Qatar is pursuing an economic diversification strategy, including foreign investments that serve Qatar’s integrated economic system and its Qatar National Vision 2030.
Turkmenistan enjoys stability internally and externally, thanks to its complete neutrality, and to being a major player in the geopolitical arena, since it is one of the largest natural gas exporting countries, having the fourth largest gas reserves in the world, a pillar of the gas industry in Central and Southeast Asia due to its gas pipeline project connecting Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, India, and Pakistan.
Turkmenistan is located in Central Asia, with an area of 491,200 square kilometers following its independence from the former Soviet Union, and a population of about six million people. Turkmenistan’s geographical location is a source of strength to its economy, as many major trade routes pass through its territory, rendering it a regional major commercial center, bordering several countries, enabling it to be a center for trade and economic exchange with its neighbors.
The Turkmen economy is characterized by a low unemployment rate, a large public sector, and the encouragement of investment in basic industries such as energy, transportation, mining, and agriculture.
The Turkmen government seeks to diversify its economy by strengthening its private sector, attracting foreign investors, and developing other non-oil industries, such as tourism, food, and service industries. The Turkmen economy experienced significant improvement over the past years, as its exports, especially those of gas and oil have increased, but also its exports of industrial materials, agricultural products, textiles, and electric power all increased.
Source : Penisula
