The International transport and logistics forum in the Avaza National tourist zone

The Avaza National tourist zone hosts the International conference HEAVY CASPIAN: TURKMENISTAN. The transport and logistics forum is organized by the Heavy World company - one of the world leaders in the field of heavy and oversized cargo transportation, together with the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan and the Turkmen Logistics Association (TLA).

The general sponsor of the forum is another domestic freight forwarding company - Yuk Ulag Merkezi, which specializes in the transportation of non-standard cargo and has extensive experience working with relevant companies in the CIS, Baltic States and the Persian Gulf.

Strengthening the international cooperation in the transport field is one of the key aspects of the economic policy of Turkmenistan, consistently implemented by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. The Turkmen leader’s constructive initiatives, which are widely supported by the world community, are aimed at intensifying cooperation in this sector that plays a crucial role in the development of intergovernmental trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian ties. This is clearly illustrated by the relevant Resolutions adopted by the UN General Assembly.

The favorable geographical location of Turkmenistan determines its strengthening status as a significant transit and transport hub of Eurasia. Willing to realize its impressive potential in this area, our state is successfully implementing the national programmes on the comprehensive modernization of the material and technical base of all types of transport.

Major projects are implemented together with foreign partners in order to create a combined regional and interregional transport infrastructure, to form transcontinental transport corridors North-South and East-West.

The dynamic growth rates of the national economy, the high investment activity, the ongoing large-scale construction of numerous industrial facilities, including in the oil and gas, chemical, electric power, textile and other industries, as well as the favorable geographical position make Turkmenistan attractive for the world freight traffic. This is clearly demonstrated by the international transport forums regularly held in the country.

Promoting the integration of the Caspian region and the Central Asia into the system of the world economic relations, the projects on the revival of the Great Silk Road implemented by Turkmenistan open up new opportunities for international cooperation in the field of air, rail, sea, road and multimodal transportation. Establishing mutually beneficial business relations with foreign partners, Turkmen businessmen actively develop the market of transport and logistics services.

This is the main goal of the current conference that brought together more than 100 participants, including top managers of transport, logistics and trading companies from Turkmenistan, Russia, Austria, Belgium, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Iran, Poland, Estonia, Saudi Arabia among others.

The interactive presentation about the Turkmenbashi International Sea Port started the business programme of the forum. Visiting the sea harbor, businessmen got acquainted with the technical equipment, the organization of loading and unloading operations, warehousing activities, the freight forwarding services, etc. They also had a meeting with the port authorities to clarify their questions. A video film about the possibilities and the plans for the further development of the country's main sea gate was demonstrated to the guests during the briefing.

A new port complex erected on the Caspian coast is of strategic importance for the international cargo transportation system. It provides the access to the Black and Mediterranean Seas, to the countries of Europe, the Middle East, South Asia and the Asia-Pacific region via optimal routes.

Given the growing transit flow of vehicles through Turkmenistan to Europe and Central Asia, a year-round ferry service between the ports of the Caspian Sea reduces the time of cargo delivery, and therefore their cost that is the main goal of the well-established supply chain.

A sea excursion along the coast of the Avaza National tourism zone was organized for the forum participants to demonstrate the scales of the project on the creation of a world-class resort.

According to the foreign guests, they received unforgettable impressions about the Nisa State Historical and Cultural Reserve, included into the UNESCO World Heritage List, and the Darvaza gas crater that they visited in the framework of the cultural programme.