News

On 26 February in Vilnius, Lithuania’s Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Evaldas Ignatavičius and First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Vepa Hajiyev discussed bilateral political and economic cooperation.

During the meeting, Vice-Minister E.Ignatavičius expressed satisfaction that bilateral relations had intensified over the past few years - ambassadors were accredited to Turkmenistan and Lithuania, and a political dialogue was being developed. According to the Vice-Minister, the two countries have created conditions for further development of bilateral cooperation in trade, economic and humanitarian spheres.

Lithuania is interested in stability and development of Central Asia and is ready to share its experience of implementing reforms with Turkmenistan. Lithuania’s Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs also highlighted that relations between the countries were becoming especially important, as Lithuania’s Chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in 2011 was approaching.

During his visit to Lithuania, V.Hajiyev had meetings at the Office of the President of the Republic of Lithuania, met with Minister of Economy Dainius Kreivys and Lithuanian businessmen working in Turkmenistan.

Currently, Lithuania and Turkmenistan are drafting intergovernmental agreements on economic cooperation, investment promotion and protection, on avoidance of double taxation and on social security.

The trade turnover between the countries is growing. In 2009, the trade turnover between Lithuania and Turkmenistan amounted to 20 million Litas and, as compared with 2008, increased by 65 percent.

Lithuanian companies in information technology (IT) services, construction, medical service, printing and publishing, railway, food and chemical industries are actively interested in Turkmenistan’s market. In the coming years, Turkmenistan intends to allocate 800 million U.S. dollars merely for the implementation of IT projects. Moreover, major constructions are planned in the capital Ashgabat.

In 2008-2009, Lithuania implemented health care development cooperation projects in Turkmenistan.

Vice-Minister E.Ignatavičius paid a visit to Turkmenistan on 22-23 June 2009.