Ashgabat hosts trade fair for CIS member states

Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, Sept. 20 / Trend H. Hasanov

Ashgabat is hosting an international fair of consumer goods produced in the CIS member countries which will run until October 10, an official Turkmen source said on Thursday.

"I believe this is an important event which involves the CIS member countries for the first time," Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov told the participants. "It will deliver broad opportunities for mutual acquaintance with the achievements in various sectors of the economy, namely the textile industry, agriculture, fuel and energy, health, education, culture, tourism, sport and business."

The main purpose of the fair is to further intensify and develop trade and economic relations between the countries of the Commonwealth.

This representative forum is designed to become the best platform for establishing productive business relations, mutually beneficial exchange of experience in the industrial sector and the development and practical implementation of innovative technologies.

Turkmenistan hosts this forum as the country chairing the CIS in 2012.

According to the concept of Turkmenistan's presidency in the CIS, around 31 events are planned to be held in 2012. Ashgabat will host a meeting of the Council of Heads of States in November.

The Forum of Creative and Scientific Intelligentsia of the CIS member states and international conferences on food security are among other planned major events.

Referring to the status of permanent neutrality, recognised and supported by the UN, Ashgabat decided on its participation in the CIS structure as an associate member in 2005.
Ashgabat has recently held several CIS events - Cinema Festival, Agricultural Forum, summit of Foreign Ministers, a meeting of the Interstate Council for Standardisation, Metrology and Certification and a meeting of the CIS Economic Council.