The Turkmen Government-United Nations (UN) joint working group (WG) on socio-economic impact of COVID-19 in Turkmenistan met to discuss the results of a preliminary analysis of possible socio-economic impact of COVID-19 in the country, the UN office in Ashgabat said in its Tuesday statement.]
The analysis was prepared by the UN Country Team in Turkmenistan, preliminary findings of which were presented at the meeting.
The UN said the joint working group was established on April 15 following the call by the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on world community to take urgent measures to mitigate the socio-economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The working group consists of the representatives of the national ministries and UN Agencies represented in Turkmenistan.
During the meeting at the UN office in Ashgabat, the UN agencies welcomed the taken measures of the Government of Turkmenistan to mitigate potential socio-economic impact of the pandemic in Turkmenistan and to reduce the negative impact of the global crisis caused by COVID-19 on the situation in the country, according to the statement.
The WG particularly discussed the measures on strengthening the health sector, reviewing the fiscal policy, supporting the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), ensuring targeted social protection for vulnerable groups and transition to digital solutions.
The meeting participants agreed to continue the dialogue. The next meeting of the WG is planned in the first half of June 2020.
