Economic cooperation strengthens between Latvia and Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, March 19 / Trend H. Hasanov / Chairman of Riga Shipyard of Latvian Republic, Director of Eiroholdings company, Vasilijs Melniks will hold meetings in the State Service of Maritime and River Transport of Turkmenistan and other agencies, State News Agency Turkmen Dovlet Khabarlary (TDH) reported on Tuesday. According to the report, within the visit meetings have been already held in the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources of Turkmenistan. "One of the priorities of Turkmenistan's state policy is to develop oil and gas industry, where, along with increased production of hydrocarbon raw materials, great importance is attached to the expansion and modernization of the infrastructure of oil-refining and petrochemical industry," the report says. Official visit of Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhammadov to Latvia in September last year has attached impetus to relations between the two countries. Following it, the two countries began to explore the potential for cooperation in the development of the Caspian port of Turkmenbashi city and system of logistics. In November last year, Latvian Minister of Transport Aivis Ronis visited Turkmenistan, who stood for the strengthening and enhancing of business contacts in the transport sector. Volume of mutual trade is growing between the countries. The trade turnover between Turkmenistan and Latvia grew by more than 1.5 times in 2011, compared with the previous year and amounted to $125 million. It is expected that the figure will double. Do you have any feedback? Contact our journalist at agency@trend.az