Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Dec. 30
By Huseyn Hasanov - Trend
As of 2017, Turkmenistan’s GDP is expected to increase by 6.5 percent, Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said.
President Berdimuhamedov made the remarks at the government meeting, the Turkmen Dovlet Habarlary state news agency reported Dec. 30.
“Despite a lot of negative and positive political and economic conditions this year, we expect high GDP growth rates, namely by 6.5 percent,” the president said.
Turkmenistan is carrying out industrialization aimed at increasing the volume of natural gas export. The state budget deficit remains at the lowest level.
"According to the forecasts, the Turkmen manat rate will remain stable - approximately at the level of 6 percent of inflation," President Berdimuhamedov said.
The president added that all plans and state programs scheduled for 2017 have been fulfilled. Thus, 1,660 facilities worth about $43 billion are being built in the country.
According to BP, Turkmenistan ranks fourth in the world for its natural gas reserves. The country supplies gas to China and Iran. Turkmenistan is diversifying its economy, developing the textile and oil products industry, actively developing oil and gas chemical industries and the industry for the production of construction materials.