site.btaBulgaria's PM Borissov, Turkmenistan's President Berdimuhamedow Discuss Deepening of Bilateral Economic Ties

Bulgaria's PM Borissov, Turkmenistan's President Berdimuhamedow Discuss Deepening of Bilateral Economic Ties

Ashgabat/Sofia, August 25 (BTA) - Bulgarian construction companies have a significant capacity and experience, which can be utilized successfully for building Turkmenistan's infrastructure and for the implementation of large-scale construction programmes, said Prime Minister Boyko Borissov during a meeting with Turkmenistan's President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, Cabinet's press service reported on Tuesday. Borissov is paying a two-day official visit to Turkmenistan on Monday and Tuesday.

President Berdimuhamedow has shown particular interest in Bulgaria's experience in the field of urban development and infrastructure construction.

The two leaders also discussed the opportunities for joint action in the field of international transport, more specifically a more active use of the potential and huge resource of the Bulgarian Black Sea port terminals and their development into intermodal centres for transit shipping from Western and Central Europe towards Asia, through the Black Sea. According to Borissov, there is potential to develop a regular rail freight transport from Varna, through Poti, Tbilisi and Baku.

The implementation of the Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline will allow the supply of natural gas from Turkmenistan to Bulgaria via the interconnectors in Turkey and Greece. This will be a serious step toward achieving true diversification of natural gas supply sources for Bulgaria, said Borissov during the meeting. The Bulgarian Prime Minister and Turkmenistan's President also discussed deepening cooperation between the two countries in the energy sector. Borissov noted Turkmenistan's important role for the EU's and Bulgaria's energy security, in the context of the possibility to diversify natural gas supply sources and routes for Europe through the implementation of the Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline. The Bulgarian Prime Minister also showed interest in the opportunities for Bulgarian companies to take part in the prospecting and extraction of oil and natural gas, as well as the construction and technical maintenance of Turkmenistan's energy, gas and oil infrastructure.

President Berdimuhamedow noted the need to enhance economic ties and bilateral trade.

The two leaders also discussed the need for joint action in the fields of tourism, education, science and culture, including experience exchange, training of specialists and investments in specific projects.

Prime Minister Borissov and President Berdimuhamedow stated their firm intention for bilateral dialogue to become regular.

Bilateral Agreements

As part of Borissov's official visit to Turkmenistan, Bulgarian Regional Development and Public Works Minister Lilyana Pavlova and her Turkmen counterpart Chary Atayev signed a bilateral cooperation agreement in the field of construction and architecture, the Cabinet's press service said.

The Bulgarian Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion Agency's (BSMEPA) Executive Director Marieta Zaharieva signed a cooperation agreement with the Chairman of the Union of Entrepreneurs and Industrialists of Turkmenistan, Alexander Dadayev, BSMEPA said in a press release. The areas where mixed enterprises could be established include agriculture, food industry, clothing industry and light industry. Bulgaria and Turkmenistan have mutual interests in the energy, tourism, construction, infrastructure, pharmaceuticals and medical sectors, as well as in science, education, culture and sport. There are good perspectives for the two countries in the field of transport. Both countries are transit corridors between the huge European and Asian markets, Zaharieva noted. Turkmenistan is currently building a new modern port infrastructure in the city of Turkmenbashi, which is located on the Caspian Sea. This would allow the two countries to enhance bilateral relations in maritime transport through the Black and Caspian seas.