Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, November 1/ Trend, H. Hasanov /
The fifth session of the Intergovernmental Belarus-Turkmen Commission on Economic Cooperation took place in Ashgabat, a message from the Belarus Foreign Ministry published on Friday said.
According to the message, the Belorussian component of the commission was headed by the country's Deputy Prime Minister Anatoly Kalinin, and the Turkmen part was headed by the Deputy Chairman of Turkmenistan's Cabinet of Ministers Babaniyaz Italmazov.
During the meeting, prospects of mutual trade, the implementation of joint projects, the deliveries of Belorussian technology to Turkmenistan, the expansion of trading houses in Minsk and Ashgabat and cooperation in the agro-industrial complex.
According to the message, the key issue is a billion dollar project for construction of a plant in Garlyk area of Turkmenistan's Lebap region for the production of potash with capacity from one to one and a half million tons per year. The project is implemented by "Belgorkhimprom" JSC.
The Belorussian Foreign Ministry said that the volume of bilateral commodity turnover with Turkmenistan amounted to $237.8 million in 2012. The export increased by 0.6 per cent and amounted to $231.5 million, while import decreased by 11.7 per cent and hit $6.2 million.
Commodity turnover between the countries increased by 18.2 per cent and amounted to $169.7 million in January-August 2013. The export between the two countries increased by 19 per cent and amounted to $167.4 million during the same period.
Belarus exports tractors, trucks, road, construction and agricultural technology, bicycles, lift-trucks, tires, pharmaceuticals, chemical fibers, wood products, food products (sugar, powdered milk and cream, cheese, butter, alcohol, malt, confectionery) to Turkmenistan.
The main imports from Turkmenistan are cotton yarn and fiber, fabric, knitted fabric, wool, linen. The export of services in Turkmenistan increased by 1.3 times compared to 2011 and amounted to $74.7 million in 2012. Export of services in Turkmenistan increased by 9 per cent in January-August 2013 compared to the same period of 2012 and amounted to $61.1 million.