The past week was marked by a number of events reflecting the effectiveness of the state strategy of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov aimed at further expanding international cooperation, implementing mutually beneficial projects in the name of strengthening the economic power of the Motherland and improving the living standards of the people.

On March 13, the head of Turkmenistan held a working meeting via the digital system, at which issues related to the progress of seasonal field work in the country, preparations for a nationwide campaign for planting tree seedlings, as well as organizing events on the occasion of the National Spring Holiday were considered.

In addition, information was provided on the implementation of the tasks outlined in the National Program of the President of Turkmenistan to transform the social and living conditions of the population of villages, towns, cities of etraps and etrap centers for the period up to 2028.

On March 16, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov received Martin Bouygues, Head of the French Bouygues Group. During the meeting the businessman informed the head of state about the situation at the facilities entrusted to the company, and also voiced new proposals developed taking into account the large-scale reforms carried out in Turkmenistan.

Topical issues of the socio-economic development of the country were put on the agenda of the next meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, which the President of Turkmenistan held on March 17 via a digital system.

In particular, reports were given on the activities of the Parliament to improve the country's legislative framework and preparations for the upcoming March 26 elections of deputies of the Mejlis, members of the velayat, etrap and city Halk Maslahaty and Gengeshes, the participation of the Turkmen delegation in the 146th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Manama (Kingdom of Bahrain) and the conference of the Parliamentary Network of the Non-Aligned Movement held within its framework.

The issues discussed at the meeting of the Government included the strengthening of productive interaction with international financial institutions, the modernization of the material and technical base of the fuel and energy complex, the expansion of communication services, the construction of a modern highway Turkmenbashi-Garabogaz-the border of Kazakhstan and related infrastructure facilities, the creation of the necessary conditions for the effective operation of domestic entrepreneurs, the progress of agricultural work.

Information was provided on the organization of events on the occasion of the National Spring Holiday, the international conference “Main Directions and Potential for the Development of Tourism in Turkmenistan”, as well as on the measures taken to digitalize the activities of state historical and cultural reserves, holding international olympiads and a scientific conference in the country's universities using the digital system.

At the meeting, the head of state Serdar Berdimuhamedov gave his blessing to start sowing cotton in Akhal, Balkan, Lebap and Mary velayats on March 24, and in Dashoguz velayat on March 29.

The President of Turkmenistan also signed a number of documents. Among them are the Decree on providing the oil and gas complex with the necessary funds and the Decree on providing educational institutions with laptop computers made in Turkmenistan, as well as presenting them as a gift to first-graders admitted to the country's secondary schools in the 2023-2024 academic year.

In addition, last week President Serdar Berdimuhamedov signed the Decree “On the transfer to the reserve of the Armed Forces, other troops and military bodies of Turkmenistan of conscripted military personnel and the next call-up of citizens of Turkmenistan for military service” and the Order on the implementation of the above Decree.

Following the age-old traditions of good-neighbourliness and humanism of the Turkmen people, in order to send humanitarian aid to the children of the Ukrainian people in March 2023 on behalf of the Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov Charitable Foundation for Assistance to Children in Need of Guardianship, the President of Turkmenistan signed the Order, according to which the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry, The Ministry of Textile Industry and the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs were ordered to donate to the Ukrainian side the relevant medicines and medical supplies, goods, as well as food products as humanitarian aid.

The President of Turkmenistan signed the Decree concerning control over the quality of construction and commissioning of large industrial and social facilities on time in 2023.

On March 18, on the eve of the International Day of Nowruz - the National Spring Holiday, according to the established tradition, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov launched the next stage of the implementation of a large-scale program to turn the Motherland into a flourishing land.

Following the head of state, who planted the first sapling, all the participants in the environmental campaign made their contribution to this noble cause.

A massive planting campaign in the city of Arkadag was held with the participation of the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.

The trees planted all over the country on this day, becoming part of large forest parks, further adorned the fertile Turkmen land, turning the Motherland into a land of fertile gardens, green oases and dense forests.

On the same day, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov visited an exhibition dedicated to the 15th anniversary of the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan, where he got acquainted with the range of products and industrial goods.

More than 200 exhibitors present their stands in the exhibition hall of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Among them are structural subdivisions and velayat branches of the UIET, private enterprises and business entities specializing in agriculture, food and processing industry, construction, production of building materials and electrical equipment, household appliances, as well as in trade, education, social services, transport and logistics, in folk crafts, etc. Particular emphasis is placed on demonstrating the achievements of the UIET in solving the problems of producing import-substituting and export-oriented products.

Turning to other events of the past week, let us note the good news that came from the headquarters of the United Nations. The final Declaration of the high-level meeting of the Group of Friends of Neutrality for Peace, Security and Sustainable Development, held in Ashgabat on December 10, 2022, was published on March 1, 2023 as a document of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly.

This fact eloquently testifies to the full support of the peace-loving foreign policy and creative initiatives of Turkmenistan, on the part of the Community of Nations, to its ever-increasing authority in the international arena.

Last week, the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov met with the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Çalyk Holding group of companies Ahmet Chalyk. The businessman informed about the results of the activities of the group of companies he leads in Turkmenistan and the steps taken to effectively solve the tasks set.

The long-standing partner of our country was entrusted with the construction of important facilities - the International Scientific and Clinical Center of Oncology, the International Center for Pediatrics and the Center for Dentistry and Maxillofacial Surgery, which in the coming years will replenish the multidisciplinary infrastructure of the healthcare system.

The solemn ceremony of laying the foundations of these facilities was held in Ashgabat on March 15 with the participation of the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.

On the same day, in the capital's Hezreti Omar mosque, located in the Parahat-7 residential area, a memorial sadaka was given for those who died during the recent strong earthquake in the Republic of Turkey, which caused numerous casualties and large-scale destruction.

A group of religious figures from Turkey, who specially arrived in Ashgabat, also took part in the memorial events.

On March 16, the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov paid a working visit to the Republic of Turkey, where, at the invitation of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, he took part in an extraordinary meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States (OTG).

The agenda of the Summit included issues of developing multilateral cooperation in the field of emergency management and humanitarian assistance, coordinating common efforts in preventing and overcoming the consequences of natural disasters, developing measures to respond to new challenges, as well as topical aspects of regional and international issues.

Speaking at the meeting, the Chairman of the Halk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan expressed deep condolences to the Turkish people in connection with the strong earthquake that occurred on February 6 in the southeastern region of the country and wished a speedy recovery to the victims.

Speaking about the theme of the Summit – “Natural disasters: emergency management and humanitarian assistance” - the National Leader of the Turkmen people voiced the Turkmen proverb “Standing shoulder to shoulder, you will not fall.” He recalled that one of the first who supported the independence of Turkmenistan were the Turkish brothers, who were also among the first to support the twice recognized neutral status of our country.

Since 2000, with the participation of businessmen from Turkey, projects have been implemented in Turkmenistan and work has been done in the amount of 110 billion 382 million 53 thousand dollars. Cooperation with the business circles of the friendly country will continue in the future.

Focusing on major projects, Hero-Arkadag noted that Turkmenistan is ready today to consider the issue of supplying its gas to Turkey, and if necessary, to lay a power transmission line in parallel with the gas pipeline.

Due to the fact that the member countries of the Organization of Turkic States are located in seismic zones, which from time to time leads to earthquakes, the National Leader of the Turkmen people proposed to establish cooperation on basic issues of seismology, modern geodynamics and geophysics.

Touching upon the topic of cultural and humanitarian cooperation, Arkadag Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov drew attention to the fact that next year the 300th anniversary of the poet and thinker Magtumguly would be celebrated and expressed the hope to meet everyone in Turkmenistan not in the status of an observer country, but already as a full member of the UTC.

The Chairman of the Halk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan also supported the nomination of Recep Tayyip Erdogan for the Nobel Peace Prize, emphasizing the great contribution of the leader of a friendly country to strengthening peace, security and sustainable development on a regional and global scale, as well as mutual understanding and solidarity in international relations.

On the same day, within the framework of the Summit, the meetings of the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov with the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and the President of the Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan took place.

During the meetings, the parties exchanged views on a wide range of issues related to the prospects for further development of mutually beneficial cooperation.

In preparation for the elections of deputies of the Mejlis, members of the velayat, etrap and city halk maslahaty and Gengeshes, meetings of candidates with voters are held everywhere in Turkmenistan, during which they acquaint the electorate with their election programs.

Several groups of international observers have already started monitoring the preparations for the elections.

On March 16, early voting began for voters who, for a number of objective reasons, will not be able to be at their place of residence on election day.

Last week, the Turkmen-Tatarstan business forum was held in the conference hall of the Yyldyz hotel in the capital, the agenda of which included discussion of promising areas of mutually beneficial partnership in the fields of industry, energy, agriculture and transport.

On the digital system, the twenty-second meeting of the Mejlis of the sixth convocation was held, at which a number of bills were considered and adopted, including “On the Mejlis of Turkmenistan”, “On accession to the International Convention on the Harmonized System for the Description and Coding of Goods, adopted in the city of Brussels and amended by the Protocol”, as well as on amendments and additions to some legislative acts.

In addition, by the Decrees of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan, new etraps - Kyarizek and Gordzhav - were formed as part of the city of Arkadag, educational institutions, healthcare, culture and an art monument built in the city of Arkadag were named after outstanding personalities of the Turkmen people.

The fifth conference of judges of Turkmenistan was held in the Adalat Palace. The agenda of the forum, which was held on a digital system, included priority tasks for further improving the activities of the country's judiciary.

The Turkmen athlete pleased his compatriots with another success by winning gold at the European Junior Cup in Sarajevo in judo in the weight category up to 66 kg. The title of the strongest was contested by 27 athletes from 13 countries.

In general, the events of the past week have become a clear reflection of the most important priorities of the state policy of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, aimed at the successful implementation of long-term reform programs, the dynamic development of the Motherland, steadily moving forward along the chosen path of peace, creation and progress.