The Global Gateway: Sustainable Transport Connectivity between Europe and Central Asia Forum kicked off on Monday in Brussels, Belgium, as reported by representatives of the Business Turkmenistan (BT) online publication attending the forum.
The international investment forum is graced by the presence of high-ranking officials from five Central Asian countries—Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan—alongside representatives from the European Union.
The official Turkmenistan delegation comprises Batyr Annaev, Deputy Director General of the Agency of Transport and Communications under the Cabinet of Ministers; Muhammet Muhammedov, Deputy Head of Service at the State Customs Service; Bekmyrat Ishangulyev, Deputy Chairman of the Agency Turkmendemiryollary (Turkmen Railways); Seyitguly Bayseidov, Deputy Chairman of the Agency Turkmendenizderyayollary (Turkmen Maritime and River Transport); and Merdan Bashimov, Director General of "Transport and Logistics Center" LLC.
The Forum's breakout sessions will delve into diverse topics, encompassing specific transportation modalities, potential areas for collaboration, and the attractiveness of investments.
The inaugural day of the Forum centers on ground transportation infrastructure, aiming to reduce transit time between Central Asia and Europe, streamline trade procedures, and explore trade and investment potential.
The subsequent day will focus on matters relevant to Turkmenistan, including the examination of opportunities for the transit hub.
This session will address the expansion and development of business relations in the transport sector, attracting investments for mutually beneficial projects, and fostering cooperation in transportation, and other priority areas.
An exclusive session on transportation links across the Caspian Sea will explore various aspects of the Caspian Sea crossing, including capacity and operations at key ports such as Aktau, Kuryk, Turkmenbashi, and Baku.
Global Gateway: Sustainable Transport Connectivity between Europe and Central Asia Forum is scheduled to continue until January 30, 2024.
The objective of this event is to realize the long-term vision of transforming the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor into a multimodal, modern, competitive, sustainable, predictable, intelligent, and fast route connecting Europe and Central Asia within 15 days or less.
The Forum also seeks to kickstart the process of implementing and coordinating investments along the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor by executing specific actions identified in the study.
In a significant precursor to the forum, Turkmenistan's President Serdar Berdimuhamedov met with Vice President of the European Commission Margaritis Schinas in Ashgabat in January of this year. During the meeting, the Head of State underscored the importance of hosting the Global Gateway Investment Forum on Sustainable Transport EU-Central Asia.
Photo: Business Turkmenistan
