Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Sept.11
By Huseyn Hasanov- Trend:
The opening ceremony for Turkmenistan's consulate has been held in Russia's Astrakhan region, Press Service and Information Policy Department of the administration of Astrakhan governor said on Sept.11.
"Astrakhan is the only regional center of Russia where the diplomatic mission of Turkmenistan started operating. The governor of Astrakhan, Alexander Zhilkin believes that this event will give a new impetus to the development of relations between Russia and Turkmenistan and will promote the strengthening of interregional relations," the governor's administration said.
Turkmenistan's consul to Astrakhan, Mekan Ishankuliev, for his part stressed that Turkmenistan's consular representation on Russia's Caspian Sea coast is of great importance in terms of development of transport and shipping service between the two countries as well.
The cargo transportation volume between Russia and Turkmenistan stood at $5 billion in 2013. The Astrakhan province is one of the main partners in this field.
Turkmenistan is interested in expanding ferry transportation in the Caspian Sea. The direct rail and ferry service between Russian ports of Olya near Astrakhan and Makhachkala and the port of Turkmenbashi, could increase cargo flow from Turkmenistan to Russia, Georgia, Ukraine and Belarus.
Astrakhan offers power equipment for the developing Turkmen power supply system, ships and tools for fishing and the construction of extractive platforms in the Turkmen sector of the Caspian Sea.
Turkmenistan is ready to increase the exports of construction materials, particularly cement, petroleum and petrochemical products, agricultural and light industry products to Astrakhan.
Turkmen goods transported through the border in Astrakhan can be distributed throughout the country. The Astrakhan province, for its part, shows interest in Turkmenistan's transit potential to transport Russian goods, particularly to Central Asia and Afghanistan.