His Excellency Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy, led a prominent diplomatic and economic delegation to Turkmenistan, reaffirming the strong bilateral ties between the two nations.
Minister Al Marri engaged in productive discussions with President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and other senior officials, focusing on expanded economic cooperation across multiple sectors.
Strengthening Ties in Key Sectors:
The official meeting, attended by UAE Ambassador to Turkmenistan Ahmed Al Hameli, explored avenues for bolstering cooperation in vital areas such as energy, renewable energy, new economy initiatives, tourism, transport, entrepreneurship, and technology.
Both sides emphasized the importance of diversifying their existing partnership to reflect the robust bilateral relations and shared development aspirations.
UAE Leadership Conveys Greetings and Well Wishes:
Minister Al Marri conveyed warm greetings from UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Vice President Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to President Berdimuhamedov, underscoring the UAE’s eagerness to further mutual prosperity and development.
Long-Standing Partnership and Investment in Key Sectors:
Minister Al Marri highlighted the enduring relationship between the UAE and Turkmenistan, emphasizing the UAE’s dedication to enhancing economic collaboration. This commitment has been reinforced through various agreements and memorandums of understanding, leading to joint projects that benefit both nations.
Turkmenistan remains a crucial economic partner for the UAE in Central Asia, with substantial investments, particularly in energy and renewable energy, contributing to the region’s development.
Growing Bilateral Trade:
The significant growth in bilateral non-oil trade, surpassing USD 1.26 billion in 2023, reflects the strengthening economic ties between the two countries.
This increase from previous years signifies the successful diversification of trade relations.
Three Decades of Progress in Political and Diplomatic Relations:
UAE Ambassador Ahmed Al Hamli acknowledged the progress in political and diplomatic relations over the past three decades. He praised the collaborative efforts of both governments in nurturing these ties and expanding cooperation opportunities, establishing a solid foundation for continued engagement.
The UAE delegation actively participated in the UAE-Turkmenistan Business Forum, fostering economic opportunities and facilitating communication between business communities.
Discussions centered on enhancing economic cooperation, identifying avenues for trade growth, and supporting mutual development objectives.
UAE’s Economic Transformation and Diversification Efforts:
Minister Al Marri showcased the recent advancements in the UAE’s economic landscape, emphasizing the nation’s dedication to diversifying its economy.
Non-oil sectors now account for over 74% of the UAE’s GDP, and ongoing efforts are focused on ensuring economic sustainability and fostering growth in sectors like eCommerce, agriculture technology, healthcare, manufacturing, fintech, logistics, tourism, entrepreneurship, and space.
Encouraging Investment and Cooperation:
Minister Al Marri extended an invitation to Turkmenistan companies and investors, encouraging them to leverage the UAE’s favorable business environment and incentives. He reaffirmed the UAE’s readiness to increase investments in Turkmenistan, particularly in sectors such as food, energy, clean energy, water, transportation, and logistics.
During the forum, Minister Al Marri engaged in fruitful discussions with several high-ranking Turkmenistan government officials. These dialogues focused on fostering future economic and trade collaborations to further strengthen the bilateral economic relationship.
UAE Delegation’s Active Participation:
The UAE delegation, representing 38 government entities and national companies, actively participated in bilateral meetings and presentations throughout the forum.
These interactions aimed to explore avenues for enhancing trade and investment relations, reflecting the UAE’s commitment to economic growth and cooperation with Turkmenistan.