Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, Dec. 21 / Trend H. Hasanov /
The Turkmen State Committee for Fisheries will sign a contract with the Hong Kong Richie Company, Limited (Hong Kong) to purchase two fishing and freezer vessels and a flexible, customised fishing and transport one, an official Turkmen source said today. The corresponding decree was signed by the Turkmen President.
The deal will increase the fish production. Turkmenistan has recently made a policy of intensifying sea transport. According to the data as of May 2012, the country's merchant fleet is composed of nine vessels, of which four cargo ships with a total capacity of over 13,000 tons and five river and sea tankers with a total capacity of 23,600 tons.
Local experts say that the role of the Caspian Sea port of Turkmenbashi will increase significantly due to the increasing importance of the Europe-Caucasus-Central Asia route.
It is planned to build additional berths, create shipyards and logistics centre. The international port is planned to be modernised.
It was reported earlier that the Turkmen Central Bank is examining the possibilities of credit allocation through available funds in foreign currency to implement the projects which comply with the master plan of the international sea port in Turkmenbashi and the Merchant Marine Fleet of the country till 2020.