Dear participants of the international conference!

Dear guests!

I cordially congratulate you on the beginning of the International Conference “International Year of Peace and Trust: the Role of Interregional Economic Cooperation in Ensuring Sustainable Development”, held in the International Year of Peace and Trust in our white-marble capital on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s permanent neutrality! The role of this forum is great in ensuring economic stability in the region of Central and South Asia, the effective implementation of energy, transport and infrastructure projects, as well as in increasing investment potential in the relevant areas.

The Central and East Asian region offers ample opportunities for intensifying the implementation of international projects and establishing multilateral cooperation. Our country is actively implementing regional energy, transport and infrastructure projects, and is consistently developing mutually beneficial partnerships with countries around the world and major international organizations. All this has great geopolitical and geoeconomic significance and plays an important role in ensuring energy security in the region, the interconnectedness of transport and transit corridors, and the active attraction of investments in national and regional projects. In this regard, guided by best practices, our national programs are based on important tasks related to economic development through diversification.

Dear conference participants!

Guided by the principles of peace, trust and mutually beneficial cooperation that Turkmenistan promotes in the international space, our country is establishing constructive partnerships with countries of the world, international organizations and leading companies. In this context, the main vectors of interaction include the development of energy and transport systems, and the implementation of other infrastructure projects. We see great potential in regional cooperation in these areas. As one of the energy-powerful states in the region, today Turkmenistan is becoming a crossroads of international transport and transit corridors. This is clearly demonstrated by the adoption, on the initiative of our neutral country, of resolutions by the United Nations General Assembly related to the transport sector and energy security, as well as major projects implemented in these areas in recent years.

In September last year, Turkmenistan began implementing a new stage of construction of a number of major facilities of international importance. A 177-kilometer-long railway bridge was opened on the Turkmen-Afghan border of the Serhetabat-Turgundi railway corridor, and construction of the Serhetabat-Herat gas pipeline, called “Arkadagyň ak ýoly,” was launched, the transnational gas pipeline Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India, a warehouse complex in the dry port of the railway station of Turgundi, the Turgundi-Sanabar section of the first stage of the Turgundi-Herat railway. Also, as part of the implementation of the first stage of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan power transmission line project, the Nur-el-Jahad power plant was commissioned in the Afghan province of Herat.

Situated at the crossroads of international routes in the region, Turkmenistan is strengthening the infrastructure of the main transport and transit corridors in order to revive the Great Silk Road. From this point of view, we attach particular importance to cooperation between the countries of the region within the framework of the North-South transport corridor project, which leads to the ports of the Indian Ocean. This international transport and transit corridor, connecting the countries of Central and South Asia, is of great importance in increasing cargo flows and enhancing the transit capabilities of the participating countries of the project.

Our country is carrying out comprehensive work to modernize the infrastructure of the fuel and energy complex. In terms of reserves of "blue fuel", Turkmenistan is among the first countries in the world. Electricity production volumes are regularly increasing, and export potential is growing. Considering the growing demand for energy resources in the world day by day, our country considers the activation and bringing to a new level of interregional relations in the implementation of energy projects as the main tasks.

As a result of large investments in energy, transport and infrastructure projects, the strength of the national economy is strengthened. The active participation of authoritative international organizations, including international financial institutions, in the implementation of these projects, which provide for the general development of the countries of the region, opens up new opportunities for expanding foreign economic relations and developing the economy through diversification.

Dear guests!

This international conference, which is one of the important events of the International Year of Peace and Trust and is held with the aim of increasing regional economic cooperation, will contribute to strengthening constructive relations between the states of Central and South Asia, discussing modern trends in the implementation of fuel and energy, transport and transit and infrastructure projects, as well as attracting investment in them.

I am firmly convinced that the conference will become an important platform for exchanging experiences on issues related to ensuring sustainable development in all areas of the economies of the countries of the region, the introduction of modern innovations and investment opportunities.

Dear conference participants!

Dear guests!

Once again, I cordially congratulate you on the beginning of the International Conference "International Year of Peace and Trust: the Role of Interregional Economic Cooperation in Ensuring Sustainable Development"! I wish you good health, family well-being and great success in your work!

President of Turkmenistan

Serdar Berdimuhamedov.