Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, Jan. 28 / Trend H. Hasanov /
Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov instructed the government to consider proposals from Japanese partners and their participation in prospective joint projects in various fields, Turkmen government said on Monday.
During recent talks with representatives of Japanese business circles, possible joint investment projects in the petrochemical, gas processing, engineering, electrical and other industries were a subject of discussion.
At the last government meeting, the Turkmen leader said that "the country attaches great importance to strengthening and developing fruitful cooperation with Japan, relations with which are in the spirit of mutual understanding, trust and constructive business partnership."
Impetus towards relations with Japan was given through Berdimuhamedov's official visit to Tokyo in 2009, resulting in the signing of intergovernmental agreements and contracts with Japanese companies such as JGC Corporation, ITOCHU Corporation, Kawasaki Plant Systems, Ltd, Sojitz Corporation, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Mitsubishi Corporation and Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corporation.
Official Tokyo said that Japan's high technology and Turkmen rich natural resources are complementary.
A number of projects in Turkmenistan are being implemented backed by commercial loans issued by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC). Participation in projects on the modernisation of the FEC is especially noticeable, particularly modernisation of the country's largest oil refinery in Turkmenbashi to the sum of $1.6 billion.
Supply of road construction and earth moving equipment also remains a traditional form of cooperation.