MINSK, 25 January (BelTA) – Turkmenistan is interested in expanding cooperation with Belarus in the fuel and energy sector, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said as he met with President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko in Minsk on 25 January. “Turkmenistan is interested in boosting fuel and energy cooperation with Belarus. We also hope to expand cooperation in the motor-car construction, engineering, pharmaceutics, TV communications, light and textile industry,” the Turkmen leader said. The President of Turkmenistan stressed that Turkmenistan is deeply interested in Belarus’ assistance in sharing technological experience in the chemical industry, agriculture, food production. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted that the bilateral trade and economic cooperation has been recently given a good impetus. “We have everything necessary to make these relations better, to make them meet the interests of the two nations. Although we are not yet happy with the trade volume and the level of investments,” the President of Turkmenistan said. According to the Turkmen leader, it is high time the activity of the Belarusian-Turkmen intergovernmental commission for cooperation was intensified. “Both state and private organizations of the two countries should consider the prospects of Belarus-Turkmenistan cooperation,” Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov believes. He added that Turkmenistan, just as Belarus, aims to diversify its trade and improve the economy from the point of view of innovations. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov offered to hold Belarus-Turkmenistan business forums with the participation of state and private companies. The Turkmen leader pointed to more active development of cultural, humanitarian, scientific and education relations between the two countries. “We have rich experience and good traditions in this area,” the President of Turkmenistan said and added that the issue of forthcoming Days of Belarusian Culture in Turkmenistan and the Days of Turkmen Culture in Belarus had been also considered. Belarus-Turkmenistan trade reached almost $68 million in January-November 2009, 48% up from the same period in 2008. The export soared 51.5% to $66.5 million. The products with a high added value make up the bulk of Belarus’ exports to Turkmenistan. They are tractors, trucks, spare parts, plastic packing and medicines. Turkmenistan has recently started exporting fabric and ready-made products of the light industry, electric transformers, buses, elevators.

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