Ashgabat, December 18, 2024 – The Europe Today: The National Leader of the Turkmen people and Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, met on Tuesday with Eric Stewart, Executive Director of the Turkmenistan-U.S. Business Council, to discuss avenues for enhancing bilateral relations. The meeting, held in Ashgabat, was widely covered by Turkmenistan’s official media, highlighting the country’s readiness to deepen cooperation with the United States.
Eric Stewart expressed gratitude for the opportunity to engage in direct dialogue, commending Turkmenistan for creating favorable conditions for effective and mutually beneficial business activities. He noted the growing interest of U.S. business circles in Turkmenistan, citing its potential for investment and development.
During the discussions, Stewart praised Turkmenistan’s extensive efforts in environmental protection, biodiversity conservation, and maintaining ecological balance. He emphasized that Turkmenistan’s initiatives in these areas serve as a model for the international community and have received widespread support from global organizations. These achievements, he added, stem from the state’s robust environmental policies guided by Berdimuhamedov.
Chairman Berdimuhamedov acknowledged the high praise, reaffirming Turkmenistan’s active engagement with international organizations, particularly the United Nations, in the environmental sphere. He highlighted key resolutions adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2024 at Turkmenistan’s initiative, including “2025 – International Year of Peace and Trust” and “Central Asia – Zone of Peace, Trust, and Cooperation”.
The meeting also underscored the strengthening partnership between Turkmenistan and the United States. Both sides recognized the vital role American companies play in developing trade and economic ties, particularly in energy, transportation, agriculture, and high technology sectors. Berdimuhamedov expressed satisfaction with the successful operations of American businesses in strategic sectors of Turkmenistan’s economy and noted their growing interest in expanding cooperation.
Concluding the meeting, the National Leader of the Turkmen people thanked Eric Stewart for his personal efforts in fostering and expanding Turkmenistan-U.S. relations, emphasizing the mutual benefits of the growing partnership.
