Turkmen President encourages ECO to develop SMEs partnerships

Tashkent, The Gulf Observer: Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov encouraged countries in the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) to develop partnerships in small and medium-sized enterprises and increase cross-border trade to enhance trade turnover, the Turkmen official media reports.

Serdar Berdimuhamedov highlighted the importance of creating a favourable cross-border environment and stimulating regional cooperation, intensifying business relations and service cooperation.

The Head of State proposed to create an Information Portal to expand awareness of the countries’ capabilities and expressed willingness to increase gas and electricity supplies to the ECO countries, emphasising the importance of developing an effective cooperation model to meet the growing energy needs of the countries.

The President of Turkmenistan assured that Turkmenistan is prepared to augment the amount of natural gas and electricity supplied to the ECO countries. This will be accomplished by utilising the existing capacities and those that will be developed.

Serdar Berdimuhamedov also proposed to create a Framework Agreement on Digital Technologies and Electronic Commerce. The Head of State emphasised the importance of economic corridors for promoting goods and services. It encouraged the development of partnerships between firms, investment companies and banks of the ECO countries.

In addition, the President of Turkmenistan called for establishing Joint Transport and Logistics Centres, highlighting the importance of modern transport and communication networks for the successful development of economic partnerships.

The head of state noted the importance of Eurasian transport corridors for the continent’s prosperity and proposed to consider the creation of Joint Transport and Logistics Centres with the participation of state bodies and private companies.

The next summit of the Economic Cooperation Organisation will be held in Azerbaijan.