Turkmenistan, Tatarstan in Oil and Gas and Auto Engineering Cooperation

Ashgabat, 15 January 2008 (nCa) --- Turkmenistan and Tatarstan, the largest and one of the most advanced component republics of Russia, signed Monday two bilateral documents for cooperation in the hydrocarbon and auto engineering sectors.

The signing ceremony took place after a meeting between President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov of Turkmenistan and Prime Minister Rustam Minnikhanov of Tatarstan.

Berdymuhamedov said that Russia enjoys the most favoured nation status in Turkmenistan and avenues are open for mutual cooperation in trade, agriculture, public healthcare, shipbuilding, petrochemicals, oil extraction and other areas. He said that Turkmenistan and Tatarstan have huge potential for mutually advantageous collaboration.

Education is another area for cooperation, said Berdymuhamedov. Some Turkmen students are already studying in the Almetevsky Petroleum Institute of Tatarstan.

The Turkmen president invited the Tatarstan delegation to participate in the development of the free tourist and trade zone Avaza at the Caspian coast of Turkmenistan.

The protocols signed Monday are:

Ø      Expansion of cooperation in the hydrocarbon sector

Ø      Delivery of automobile engineering units and services

Heads of some of the major Russian companies located in Tatarstan such as auto manufacturer KamAz, oil and gas company TatNeft, helicopter manufacturer Kazansky Vertoleotny Zavot, Zelenodolsky shipbuilding yard and others participated in the negotiations.

KamAz, the manufacturer of light and heavy trucks and lorries, passenger buses, tractors and a wide range of other on road and off road vehicles, is building an overhaul and repair facility for its vehicles in Turkmenistan.

In addition to hydrocarbon sector and auto engineering, shipbuilding is another area where Tatarstan could cooperate with Turkmenistan because the planned expansion of Turkmenbashy port would generate the need of more vessels for carrying dry and liquid cargo.

The Tatarstan delegation presented to Berdymuhamedov a copy of the Tatar language edition of Ruhnama, the moral and spiritual code penned by late President Niyazov.