Prospects for transport cooperation between Turkmenistan and the EU discussed in Brussels

Ambassador of Turkmenistan to Belgium and Head of the Delegation of Turkmenistan to the EU Sapar Palvanov met on Tuesday with Maya Bakran, Head of the Directorate General for Transport and Mobility (DG-MOVE) of the European Commission.
DG-MOVE, based in Brussels, develops and implements the European Commission's transport policy. Its mission is to ensure that transport policies are designed for the benefit of all sectors of society. The DG carries out these tasks through legislative proposals and program management, including project funding.
During the meeting, Ambassador Palvanov spoke about the measures and initiatives taken by Turkmenistan in the transport sector. The focus was on sustainable transport. One of the important upcoming events for Turkmenistan in this direction is the opening of the city of Arkadag - the country's first "smart city".
"The new city boasts an environmentally friendly transportation system, in line with global efforts to reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainable transportation solutions," the ambassador said.
The plenipotentiary also proposed various ways to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation between Turkmenistan and the EU. These proposals are based on the goals set out in the Program for the Development of Transport Diplomacy of Turkmenistan for 2022-2025 and based on the initiatives of Turkmenistan voiced on multilateral platforms, in particular, in the UN, the International Road Transport Union, etc.
DG-MOVE Director General Bakran acknowledged the importance of continuing dialogue in the transport sector and stressed the EU's commitment to strengthening relations with the countries of Central Asia. She also welcomed the commitment of the countries of Central Asia to the idea of promoting connectivity.
Maya Bakran spoke about the activities of her Directorate, noting that while the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) focuses on financing transport projects, DG-MOVE conducts research and publishes the results for all stakeholders. The Directorate is currently finalizing a study on sustainable transport links between Europe and Central Asia, including Turkmenistan. The study, carried out by EU consultants on the ground, will be published in the coming days.
Bakran said that 18.5 billion euros have been allocated to priority investment needs, including a number of "soft" measures aimed at digitalization, electronic document management, increased interoperability and sustainable connectivity.
The Ambassador and the Head of DG-MOVE also discussed potential areas of cooperation such as the training of technical personnel in the transport sector and the prospects for organizing a future expert-level conference on links between the countries of Central Asia and the EU.
“Ambassador Palvanov's meeting with Director General Maya Bakran underlined the common focus on strengthening cooperation between Turkmenistan and the EU in the transport sector. Discussions focused on Turkmenistan's initiatives, the upcoming EU-EBRD study and promising areas of collaboration,” the Turkmen Embassy in Brussels commented on the meeting.
“Both sides recognized the numerous prospects and opportunities for further cooperation, emphasizing the importance of continuing dialogue and mutual efforts to strengthen interconnectedness and sustainable transport links between Europe and Central Asia,” the diplomatic institution noted.

source: orient news