Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, Nov 27 / corr Trend H.Hasanov /
Italy is Turkmenistan's largest foreign trade partner.
Goods turnover between the two countries was $1.52 billion last year.
During his visit to Italy Nov. 24-25, Turkmen President Gurbangulu Berdimuhammedov said increasing relations with Italy will promote investment projects, diversify imports and exports and promote capital investing.
Turkmenistan is interested in attracting Italian capital, technologies, equipment and manufacturing meeting international standards, the president said
At the same time, the Central Asian country offers Italy increased levels of petrochemical and oil refinery product exports, as well as textiles and raw minerals.
The two countries decided to establish an intergovernmental commission and exchange trade representations.
Seven Italian companies operate in Turkmenistan and 12 investment projects have been registered in the country. Foreign trade turnover is increasing dynamically.
Italy, a leading world exporter, transfers high-tech equipment and know-how to Turkmenistan, Berdimuhammedov said.
Attending the business forum were heads of over 70 corporations, and leading European banks and companies, including: ENI, Edison, Technomont, Bonatti, Fiat, Italy's State Railways, Ferrero, Pirelli, Italcement, the Financial Society of Shipyards, Benetton, RAI International, Unicredit Group, Alenna Aeronautics, VASS, Seleks Communications, and MBDA.
These companies specialize in energy, agriculture, food and textile industry, construction, transport, telecommunications, banking and finance, and aerospace technology.