Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Aug. 31
By Huseyn Hasanov – Trend:
Christopher Edwards, regional director of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) for Central Asia, visited the Ashgabat office of the Turkmen Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, Trend reports referring to the Union.
The productivity of cooperation between private companies and USAID in the implementation of a number of promising projects, including the agricultural projects, was stressed during the meeting.
Edwards drew attention to the positive experience of cooperation with the Union and proposed to strengthen the interaction, export opportunities of the Turkmen entrepreneurs, as well as implement the tourism projects.
USAID launched the activity in Turkmenistan in 1992 and supports the economic growth programs, helps the enterprises increase productivity and income, as well as works with the state agencies to modernize the energy and trade sectors.
Turkmenistan holds one of the key positions in the region in the supply of natural gas. China and Russia are importers of gas.
The Turkmen entrepreneurs faced difficulties due to restrictions on currency conversion since 2016. In its press release in the middle of March 2018, IMF stressed that it would be desirable for Turkmenistan to weaken the currency regulation measures in relation to imports and other current international payments.
The IMF also emphasized that the reforms in the real sector should focus on great simplification of administrative procedures and rules, accelerating reforms and privatizing state-owned enterprises and attracting foreign direct investments.
The conditions for free wholesale trade are being created in Turkmenistan.
The goals have been set to create other institutions of market infrastructure in the country, namely, the commodity market, stock market, securities market, information, advisory and audit centers.