Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, Oct. 19 / Trend , H.Hasanov/
"Be assured that in the way of reforms designed to benefit the people of Turkmenistan, Germany will continue to be your reliable partner," said the letter by the German President, Horst Köhler sent to the Turkmen Leader, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.
The message is timed to the forthcoming celebration of the 18th anniversary of independence of Turkmenistan (Oct. 27, 2009).
"Germany is following with great interest the expansion of your country's opportunities for economic investment. Your visit to Berlin in Nov. 2008 was another important step towards deepening the bilateral relations," said the letter.
According to the TurkmenMinistry of Trade and Foreign Economic Relations, the country registered 53 companies with German capital, as well as 101 investment projects and contracts with companies from Germany totaling $185.6 million, 731.9 million German marks and €450. 2 million.
Germanic companies have a solid service record on the Turkmen market. The country's largest oil refinery in the city of Turkmenbashi on the Caspian Sea was modernized by a number of companies from Germany, and loans of the German leading banks were used. The companies, such as Mannesman, MAN, Bentek, Wintershall, Siemens and Unionmatex GmbH proved in this country.
This list can be added by Airbus, Cifal, Thyssen Krupp, Knauf, Goetzpartners, Inhar and Textina. And, finally, in April this year, the Turkmen government signed a long memorandum with one of the leading traders of natural gas to the European Union markets - RWE AG.
Thus, Ashgabat clearly highlighted its right to direct access to Europe, so far closed by supplies through Russia's pipelines and to Iran. In the view of local observers, the fact that as a "locomotive" for the European market, the incumbent President, Berdimuhamedov chose the German concern RWE is not accidental. Even as a Health Minister, deputy prime minister, he was a frequent visitor to Germany, as German companies, especially Siemens were actively involved in the establishment of medical camps in the country.
It is a significant fact that Deutsche Bank is a custodian of foreign reserves of Turkmenistan for many years, and the only European air carrier, using the Turkmen sky is Lufthanza.