Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, Dec. 30 / Trend H. Hasanov /
Cotton growing is a strategic sector of the domestic agricultural industry, Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said at a governmental meeting, the official Turkmen source said.
"Cotton is not only the main raw material for the national textile industry, but also the most valuable export product," the President said, pointing to the need to continue expanding the geography of partnership in this area. The report on the status of seasonal agricultural work was presented.
"The state will continue focusing on the development of the agricultural sector with significant potential to achieve even higher levels and comprehensive measures in this direction," the President said.
The auction and negotiations were recently held in Ashgabat between exporters and consumers of Turkmen 'white gold'. The event was organised by the state concern Turkmenpagta, (Turkmencotton), the State Commodity and Raw Materials Exchange and the Chamber of Commerce of the country.
Turkmenistan has prepared more than 1 million 50,000 tons of raw cotton this year. Traditionally the country exports to China, Russia, Great Britain, South Korea, Turkey, Iran, Indonesia, Singapore, Ukraine and the Baltic countries.
The contractual obligations were over fulfilled in 2010. About 1 million 300,000 tons of cotton instead of the planned 1 million 50,000 tons were collected.
About 36 ginneries operate in the State Concern Turkmenpagta. Raw cotton is grown in five provinces of the country: Akhal, Mary, Lebap, Dashoguz and Balkan.
Upland cotton bearing a medium type is grown in all the country's regions and long staple cotton such as Pima, in the Akhal and Mary provinces. Cotton is sold through the Turkmen State Commodity and Raw Materials Exchange.
The heads and representatives of the international agency Cotton Outlook and the International Cotton Association (UK), the Cotton Association and the Chinese Exchange, the Russian cotton community, the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (Saudi Arabia) attended the international trade fair in Ashgabat.
Moreover, such companies as Central Cotton Company, Wakefield Inspection Services andSynder, ICT Cotton, Paul Reinhart AG, Jecot SA, Rezana Trading SA and ECOM Agroindustrial Corp., SGS Uzbekistan, CIFAL Group, Cottonex Anstalt, Dilosystems and Otto-Stadtlander GmbH, Mezhtrans Moldova, Maschio Gaspardo, SIGNALS-P, International Trading Company, O'ZINTERIMPEKS and Uzprommashimpeks, AgroBest Grup, Olam Imternational, Daewoo, TOYOSHIMA, Shandong Swan Cotton Industrial Machinery Stock Co., Xinjiang Yinlong Internasional Agricultural Cooperation Co., and SHANDONG HONGRUN GREASE CO., Avery Solution INK, Dneprkozhgalanteriya, Al Teks and LP-Tehnologii, Trading House Batson, Medteks, Kineshma cotton mill and Agrochem were represented.