Maintenance of sustainable development of our fatherland, further improvement of social living conditions of people in urban and rural areas and enhancement of their well-being - among priorities of the state policy of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, as a result of systematic realisation of which, cardinal reforms in branches of the economic complex and transition to the digital system are carried out and new workplaces are created in Turkmenistan.

Fulfilment of goals following from programs of social and economic development of the country as well as the course of seasonal agricultural campaigns became topics of the working meeting, which the head of the state held online on July 8.

The wheat harvesting campaign goes on in the fields of our fatherland. The yielded crop is transported from reception points to storehouses, including to grain elevators. Accounts with agricultural manufacturers is settled in due time. Fields freed from wheat are ploughed and seeds for the forthcoming sowing campaign are prepared.

At the meeting, khyakims of Balkan and Dashoguz velayats informed the good news of successful fulfilment of their grain production plans by grain-growers.

Inter-row cultivation, application of minerals and vegetative irrigation are carried out in cotton fields.

Along with the yield of vegetables and gourds, including potato, due measures are taken to their subsequent storage in refrigerated warehouses and delivery to home markets. Besides it, all necessary work is carried out for preparation of the fields allotted for forthcoming sowing of winter species of these crops.

In Dashoguz and Lebap velayats care of rice fields and in Mary velayat - sugar beet with subsequent vegetative irrigation is carried out.

Issues of strengthening of food abundance in the country are topical. In this connection, present achievements of grain-growers are especially significant, the head of the state noted.

Besides it, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov instructed to hold under indefatigable control the course of construction of different objects within the programs of social and economic development of the country, the commissioning of which are planned the current year.

At the meeting, which took place on July 9, the Central commission for holding elections and referendums in Turkmenistan summed up the final results of elections of deputies of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan announced instead of early retired deputies of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan according to constituencies No. 1 “Garaşsyzlyk”, No. 2 “Bitaraplyk” and No. 6 “Köpetdag” of the city of Ashgabat, which took place on July 7, 2024 .

Members of the Central election commission, representatives of working groups created at the Central election committee, national observers, and mass media took part in it. As was underlined, elections were held on principles of alternativeness, publicity and openness. The high activity of voters was marked. In particular, in elections of deputies of the Mejlis at three election districts 79 thousand 121 persons who live in the territory of the given districts took part and it made up 91,32 percent from the total number of the voters brought in lists. At the meeting of the Central election commission a number of other organizational issues on which corresponding decisions were made, were also discussed.

On July 12, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov held an expanded meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan, at which the activity of branches of the economic complex for the past six months of the year, the course of realisation of adopted programs of social and economic development of the country were discussed, priority issues on the second half of the year were defined and personnel issues were considered.

During the accounting period the rate of increase of gross national product made up 6,3 percent. This indicator in the industrial branch was equal to 3,6 percent, agriculture - 5,8 percent, transport-communication sector - 7,3 percent, in the sphere of services - 7,9 percent, trade - 7,8 percent, construction - 9,3 percent.

As was informed, the revenue part of the main financial plan for the accounting period was fulfilled at the level of 102,1 percent, and the expenditure part - 97,7 percent.

The revenue part of the local budget was fulfilled at the level of 101,4 percent, and the expenditure part - 98,2 percent.

The volume of the investments directed to development of national economy, for the first half of the year as compared with the same period of 2023 increased by 20,8 percent that in the ratio to gross national product made up 17,3 percent. 48,5 percent of capital investments went to constructions of industrial projects and 51,5 percent – to social projects.

As compared to indicators of the past year, in the first half of the year the growth of extraction of natural gas and oil, manufacture of electric power and many types of production was observed.

Stable indicators were provided in the transport-communication sector that was confirmed by volumes of cargo and passenger transportation by all types of transport. The volume of telecommunication service increased by 12,7 percent.

In agriculture, for six months as compared with the similar period of 2023 manufacture of vegetable production grew 7,4 percent, potato – 11,4 percent, berries and fruit – 1,2 percent, milk - 0,5 percent, meat in net weight – 0,6 percent

Positive results were observed in the private sector of economy. By the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs the growth of volumes of output of agricultural and food production for six months of the current year was equal to 112,1 percent, industrial - 103,2 percent.

As known, the realised policy is aimed at improvement of well-being of our happy citizens, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov noted and signed the Decree, according to which, from January 1, 2025 in Turkmenistan the amounts of salaries, pensions, welfare payments, scholarships of students will be increased by 10 percent.

During the meeting the basic areas of work for the immediate future, which envisage further modernisation of economy, wide introduction of innovative solutions, high technologies and the best world experience were designated.

Developing on key aspects of the internal political strategy, the head of Turkmenistan made a special emphasis on necessity of adoption of measures for appropriate fulfilment revenues and expenditure parts of the state budget till the end of the current year. Development of the state budget for the upcoming year should be carried out well-thought and timely.

Improvement of the fiscal system on the basis of international practice, monitoring of use of productive capacities of enterprises, ensuring normal circulation of money in the economy, systematic examination of sources of financing for national investment projects were identified as priority tasks. The head of the state also gave instructions to work on a permanent basis to maintain the stable exchange rate of the national currency and to expand cooperation with international financial organizations.

According to the program of social and economic development of Turkmenistan for 2024 and the Investment program in a specified period in the country capital investment in the amount of 15 billion 420 million manats was implemented and as compared with the similar period of the past year it is 21 percent higher, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov stated with satisfaction.

Large-scale construction of industrial and other projects proceeds. So, in velayats, cities and etraps apartment houses with the area of 454 thousand square metres were commissioned. Industrial projects, kindergartens, schools and other constructions are also built.

According to the marked plans, the policy of diversification of delivery of Turkmen energy resources to the world markets is carried out. In the given context, necessity of further introduction of modern technologies and adoption of complex measures for enhancement of capacities of profile enterprises of the branch was underlined.

As was marked, within a half-year the national economy steadily developed, new enterprises for manufacture of competitive, high-quality production were created, numerous industrial projects were put into operation.

At the same time, it was emphasized that activities are being carried out to ensure economic and financial stability, to increase employment and the country’s export potential as well as to introduce widely digital technologies in industry.

Having drawn the attention to further long-term plans, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov pointed out that in the second half of the year, it is planned a great number of events of international and interstate significance. In the given context, importance of high level of preparation for Independence Day and Day of Neutrality of our fatherland and for the celebrations dated to the 300^th birthday anniversary of the great thinker, poet Magtymguly Fragi was stated.

During celebration of the 33^rd anniversary of independence, the capital will host the next meeting of the Khalk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan at which achievements of our sovereign state will be summed up and topical issues will be discussed.

At the same time, the head of the state noted expediency of decision to set up the Organizing committee on convocation, definition of dates and conduction of the next forum of this higher representative body at high level and approval of its structure.

The strengthening of fruitful partnership and trustful relations with countries of the planet and international organisations also acts as a priority vector. Turkmenistan realises the foreign policy on the basis of principles of positive neutrality, peaceful disposition, «open doors», good neighbourhood and mutually beneficial cooperation and equal rights. Importance of continuation of work on development of fruitful international interaction was in this connection underlined.

By orders of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov the plan of admission of trainees in the Academy of Civil Service under the President of Turkmenistan as well as the plan of admission in the higher and secondary vocational educational institutions in 2024, structure of the state commission for admission in the above-named educational institutions were approved.

The head of the state announced the granting of a leave of absence to the leadership corps of the country from August 1 to September 1, during which they will be able to rest in the resorts of our fatherland.

The meeting also considered personnel issues, adopted a number of documents aimed at the development of branches of the domestic economy.

Among other events of the past week was the launch of the Global Report on World Population 2024 in Ashgabat on 11 July, on the occasion of the annual World Population Day. Within the framework of the event, the Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the National Red Crescent Society of Turkmenistan and the United Nations Population Fund, which confirmed the mutual interest of the parties in further cooperation to achieve common goals.

On July 12, a solemn event was held in the Presidential Palace Complex «Oguzhan» on the occasion of fulfilment of wheat production plans by hard-working grain growers of the country. The Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, who oversees the agro-industrial complex, reported to President Serdar Berdimuhamedov that skilled grain growers have gathered over 1 million 400 thousand tons of high-quality wheat for the harman of our fatherland.

As noted, the high level of achievement in the agro-industrial sector has led to the effective implementation of large-scale reforms to ensure food abundance in the country, to increase the volume of production of various types of agricultural products due to successful implementation of great reforms under the leadership of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov initiated in this area by Hero-Arkadag.

That very day in Arkadag city, children who get treatment and restore their health in the children's rehabilitation centre named after Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, on the occasion of the remarkable labour victory of courageous grain-growers special gifts were given on behalf of the President of Turkmenistan and the National Leader of the Turkmen people.

On July 13, the sixth meeting of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan of the seventh convocation was held, at which a number of laws developed in accordance with the priorities of the state policy of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and the comprehensive programme to modernize legislation and legal framework of the country and some legislative acts were amended and supplemented.

The past week, a group of Turkmen pilgrims returned safely to their homeland, who, in accordance with the Order of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, by a special flight organized by «Türkmenhowaýollary» agency, went to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where they joined numerous pilgrims from all over the world to worship the sacred Kaaba.

During the hajj, our compatriots prayed Almighty for further prosperity of our fatherland, well-being of our people, the head of the state and Hero-Arkadag.

Thus, events of the past week have once again attested to success of socially focused policy realised by President Serdar Berdimuhamedov based on the powerful economic potential of the country, achievement of scientific and technical progress, unique historical and cultural heritage of the nation, creative spirit, energy and purposefulness of our people, especially the younger generation.