A delegation of the Turkmen Government visited Romania in April to participate in the meeting of the working group for transport cooperation. Prior to the visit of the Turkmen delegation, the two countries have agreed to set a joint working group to analyse the best methods of carrying out trade and of developing a transport corridor between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, using the advantages provided by Constanţa and Turkmenbashi ports.
It is about creating a new transport corridor in the Eurasian platform. The State Service for Maritime and Naval Transport in Turkmenistan is analysing the possibility of freight transport to Constanţa Port including the transport of liquefied natural gas.
The parties discussed the implementation of special measures to develop transport connections and corridors from Central Asia to Europe”, shows a report of the Turkmen Government. This transport requires the use of special containers and the crossing of the Caspian Sea to Baku (Azerbaijan) and then by railway to the ports of Batumi or Poti (Georgia, in the Black Sea region). From here, the transport could continue by sea to Romania. At the end of the summit, Turkmenistan and Romania signed a memorandum of understanding on transport cooperation. Projects of national and international importance are implemented by Turkmenistan according to the set programme, declared the country’s president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.
“The total cost of the facilities built as part of the contracts amounts to USD 42 Billion”, the government stated in a press release.
The construction of a port in Turkmenbashi is one of the most important projects due to its strategic position which could make Turkmenistan the main transport hub in the Caspian Sea area, the president said.
Gap Insaat, part of Calyk Holding, has won the port construction project. The contract is worth USD 2 Billion. The project includes the construction of a complex of buildings, terminals and ship production points, as well as repair facilities.
The Romanian authorities and those in Ashgabat have agreed to study and to use the collaboration opportunities within the European Union’s Strategy for the Danube region in order to establish Turkmenistan’s connection to Europe via Romania.
Thus, the cooperation between the port of Constanţa and Turkmenbashi is very important for creating an interregional transport corridor between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea.
In the first seven months of the year, the freight volumes carried in Turkmenistan has increased, one of the most important growth rates being that of railway transport. Thus, the country has carried a volume of freight by 102% higher than during the similar period of the previous year.
“At present, high standards regarding the quality and reliability of freight and passenger transport are ensured and we plan to promote international cooperation and the efficient use of transcontinental routes through Central Asia”, declared Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.
Over the last years, regional transport projects on the modernisation of the transport infrastructure of Turkmenbashi Port have been implemented.
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