Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, March 28 / Trend H. Hasanov /
Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov has approved a working committee's formation in a move to develop cooperation in the energy sector with France, an official Turkmen source said today.
According to the document, Petroleum and Mineral Resources Minister Bayramgeldi Nedirov was appointed as the chairman of the committee from the Turkmen side.
This organization will serve the development of an energy partnership between Turkmenistan and the French Republic. A joint declaration on cooperation in the energy sector was signed in Paris about a year ago.
A breakthrough is expected in the business ties between Turkmenistan and France, in particular in energy. Both countries are interested in implementing the project to transport Turkmen gas to Europe.
Total is the fourth-largest oil company in the world. It can be attracted to develop the Turkmen part of the Caspian Sea and explore the opportunities of gas transportation to Europe in the near future.
The French Schneider Electric company signed a major agreement with the Turkmen government within a consortium with the Belgian Enex to provide Ashgabat with power. French companies in Turkmenistan are well represented in such areas as construction, transport and tourism.
The president's visit to France in February 2010 gave an impetus to the development of relations between the two countries. The French president also plans to make a visit to Ashgabat. The date is being clarified via diplomatic channels.