Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Nov.19
By Huseyn Hasanov- Trend:
President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguli Berdimuhamedov approved a relevant decree concerning the intergovernmental agreement between Turkmenistan and France 'On Air Communication', a message from the government of Turkmenistan said.
According to the message, approving the agreement, Berdimuhamedov stressed that this step will serve to strengthen traditionally friendly Turkmen-French relations, further intensifying fruitful relations between Turkmenistan and France which have acquired a new context in recent years.
State National Service Turkmen Howa Yollary (Turkmenistan Airlines) earlier reported that as from December 20, 2013, it will begin operating regular passenger flights from Ashgabat-Paris and Paris-Ashgabat five days a week.
In 2012, Turkmenistan and France marked the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. President of France Francois Hollande wrote in a letter to his Turkmen counterpart that "the constructive cooperation between France and Turkmenistan based on mutual trust in past two years has a great potential for development".
French companies are represented in Turkmenistan in such spheres as construction, transport, tourism and energy. The two countries are also interested in the implementation of the project for the transportation of Turkmen gas to Europe. A variant envisaging the construction of a gas pipeline through the Caspian Sea to Azerbaijan, as well as its connection to the transnational projects in European direction is being considered.
French company Total can be involved to develop hydrocarbon resources in the Turkmen section of the Caspian Sea and to study the opportunities of gas transportation to Europe. Gas de France has also expressed its interest in such cooperation.
Thales Alenia Space Company has begun construction of Turkmenistan's first national artificial satellite in 2012. A launch is planned for 2014.
The Bouygues Company is represented in the construction sphere. The company has already implemented a series of projects the cost of which exceeds $2 million, according to different estimates. French Vinci is constructing a government complex in Ashgabat.