Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, October 21/ Trend H. Hasanov /
Gurbanmamet Eliasov has been appointed Ambassador of Turkmenistan in Japan, a published decree of the President of Turkmenistan said.
Turkmen-Japanese cooperation is seen as an important component in the context of the development of relations between Turkmenistan and the Asia-Pacific region as a whole. The two countries are seeking to use their facilities as well as the geopolitical and geo-economic advantages, considering that the high technology of Japan and rich natural resources of Turkmenistan are complementary.
The official visit of Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to Tokyo in 2009 and 2013 became an impetus to relations with Japan. During the first visit, a number of intergovernmental agreements and contracts were signed with Japanese companies such as JGC Corporation, ITOCHU Corporation, Kawasaki Plant Systems Ltd and the Sojitz Corporation, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Mitsubishi Corporation and Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corporation.
During the recent visit of the Turkmen President on September 11-13, contracts were signed with Japanese companies for the construction of a number of large industrial enterprises worth more than $10 billion.
Turkmenistan has a rich experience of cooperation with Japanese investors. Of importance is their participation in projects to upgrade the fuel and energy complex (FEC), and the modernisation of the country's largest oil refinery in Turkmenbashi worth about two billion dollars is of note.
Turkmenistan is actively cooperating with the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) in this sphere. A number of documents including a memorandum of understanding between the Turkmengas State Concern and Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation, were signed in Tokyo in September 2013.
Berdimuhamedov and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe signed a joint statement between Turkenistan and Japan on new partnership.
According to the document, the parties praised the role of Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), Export Credit Agency of Japan (NEXI), Japan Association for Trade with Russia and the Newly Independent States (ROTOBO), as well as bilateral committees on economic cooperation between the two countries on expanding bilateral trade, economic and investment relations.