On 25-28 April 2023, the delegation of Turkmenistan paid a working visit to Germany to hold meetings and negotiations aimed at further intensification of trade and economic cooperation between the two countries. The Neutral Turkmenistan newspaper revealed some details of the meetings held on the sidelines of the visit.
Meeting with the Secretary General of the Eastern Committee of the German Economy
In Frankfurt, the Turkmen delegation met with Michael Harms, Secretary General of the Eastern Committee of the German Economy.
The Turkmen side stressed the role of German companies in bringing innovations to the economy of Turkmenistan. They drew attention to the fact that energy and water management are multifunctional and diversified sectors of the economy of Turkmenistan. It was emphasized that when implementing national and international projects, Turkmenistan attaches importance to such important components as digitalization and the “green” economy.
In turn, Harms noted the focus of German companies on trade diversification, energy security, as well as on green transformation as the main trends in the development of German business.
In this context, the parties agreed that new prospects for work in Turkmenistan are opening up today through the introduction and use of high-standard technologies offered by German companies.
In addition, the Turkmen side presented the Arkadag city project. Harms suggested that it would be practical to establish an “educational green center” in cooperation with Germany, which would include a number of pharmaceutical and medical businesses as well as a vocational school.
Following te meeting, the parties agreed:
- On the organization of the working visit of the Head of the Eastern Committee of the German Economy to Turkmenistan;
- On holding three online meetings between the trade, economic and business circles of the two countries on promising topics such as energy, “green” transformation, pharmaceutical and medical industry, Arkadag city project;
- On the organization of a joint economic forum in Germany.
Meeting with CLAAS company
A range of issues related to the further development of the potential of cooperation was also discussed during negotiations with the Chairman of the Supervisory Board and the shareholders’ committee, the main owner of the CLAAS company Ms. Cathrina Claas-Muehlhaeuser.
She briefed the Turkmenistan delegation on the company’s initiatives for the active application of cutting-edge technologies with components of a green economy and digitalization. As an illustration, the utilization of various additional energy sources for the operation of agricultural equipment and centralized tractor refueling was provided.
The parties agreed to arrange for Cathrina Claas-Muehlhaeuser a visit to Turkmenistan this year to meet with relevant ministries and departments.
By the way, the German partners, together with Turkmen specialists, modified the equipment taking into account the natural and climatic conditions of Turkmenistan. Now, in a test mode, they are already studying the use of digital technologies introduced into agricultural machinery “CLAAS” for active precision farming. The company has also updated the TELEMATICS platform, which allows not only to monitor the entire fleet of equipment in real time, but also to document the agricultural work performed. In this innovation, artificial intelligence is used to analyze data and compile accounting documents.
Over the years of cooperation since 2007, more than 5 thousand units of agricultural machinery under “CLAAS” brand have been delivered to Turkmenistan. In February 2023, the parties signed a new contract for the supply of spare parts for agricultural machinery “CLAAS”. In the context of cooperation in the field of personnel training for the agricultural sector of Turkmenistan, the company has opened training centers at the Turkmen Agricultural University named after S.A.Niyazov and the Turkmen Agricultural Institute in Dashoguz.
Meeting with Wilo Company
The third meeting of the Turkmen delegation was held with Oliver Hermes, the CEO of Wilo company.
Wilo is a leading manufacturer of pumping equipment for household usage, as well as municipal, industrial, and water management applications. Construction technologies, equipment manufacture, heating boilers, heat pumps and air conditioning systems, and water resource management are the major market segments.
At the meeting, the parties discussed the prospects for cooperation and great potential in the water sector and in the field of rational management of water resources. The delegation of Turkmenistan spoke about the functioning of the Karakum River and Turkmenistan’s initiatives on water resources management in the region.
In turn, Hermes stressed that at present the Central Asian region is of great interest to European companies from an economic point of view. Noting the presence of Wilo company in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Armenia, he expressed interest in opening a representative office of the company in Turkmenistan.
In order to implement specific tasks in the above-mentioned areas, the Turkmen side proposed:
- organizing a visit of the Chief Executive Officer of Wilo, Oliver Hermes to Turkmenistan this year;
- holding online conference to present the promising areas of cooperation;
- inking a MoU between Wilo and the State Committee of Water Management of Turkmenistan;
- open a representative office of the Wilo company in Turkmenistan.
Meetings in the banking sector
At the meetings of Deutsche Bank AG and Commerzbank AG, cooperation in the financial and banking sector was discussed. The parties agreed to hold regular meetings to consider issues of cooperation in the context of global financial trends and discussed the possibilities of ensuring the interests of Turkmen clients in these German banks.///nCa, 3 May 2023