Turkmenistan, Japan Discuss New Projects in Fuel, Energy, and Chemistry Sectors

Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba discussed the advancement of new projects in the fuel and energy sector, as well as the chemical industry, during one-on-one talks in Tokyo, the Neutral Turkmenistan newspaper reported on Wednesday.

The parties agreed that Japanese-Turkmen cooperation has reached a qualitatively new level over the past few years, also acquiring specific practical content, The Caspian Post reports citing foreign media.

Japan's readiness to advance and expand the two countries' partnership in new areas was also reaffirmed.

Berdimuhamedov, for his part, noted the high level of bilateral relations, listing steps to broaden trade and economic ties among their priorities.

Turkmenistan has already accomplished a number of major projects involving Japanese companies and stands ready to continue this active work to put new economic projects with Japanese partners into practice, he said.

These include the construction of a second ammonia and carbomide plant, as well as a second plant to make gasoline from natural gas.

Berdimuhamedov also invited Ishiba to attend an international forum due to take place in Ashgabat on December 12 on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan's permanent neutrality status.

The adoption of a joint press release and the signing of a memorandum of cooperation between the Turkmen Foreign Ministry and the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry on the implementation of energy transitions was announced before the start of the negotiations, the newspaper said.

At a meeting with Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) Governor Hayashi Nobumitsu, Berdimuhamedov confirmed the presence of a positive partnership record between Turkmenistan and the bank.

It was said at the meeting that Turkmenistan's state development strategy envisions creating science-based production facilities, as well as large-scale use of advanced and environmentally friendly technologies, innovations and know-how in all sectors of the economy, with a focus on such projects jointly implemented with Japanese companies.

Nobumitsu, in turn, said that JBIC attaches great significance to its years-long cooperation with Turkmenistan, adding that Japan's business circles and financial institutions are interested in further expanding bilateral ties.