President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov approved proposals to strengthen Turkmen-Austrian trade and economic cooperation, which were presented on March 15 at a government meeting.

 During the meeting, Vice-Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan, Minister of Foreign Affairs Rashid Meredov submitted for consideration to the head of state proposals regarding the creation of the Turkmen-Austrian Business Council, the opening of the Austrian House in Turkmenistan in 2025, and the holding of the 12th meeting of the Turkmen-Austrian Council in Vienna in June  working commission, organizing a visit to Turkmenistan by representatives of the Austrian business community in December of this year, as well as preparing a document defining specific areas of bilateral trade and economic cooperation.

 The Vice-Chairman also reported on the results of the recent visit to Austria of the delegation he led to discuss priority areas for the development of interstate relations.

 As noted, during negotiations with a number of government agencies, prospects for cooperation in the trade and economic, banking and financial, energy, transport and communications, industrial, construction sectors, the introduction of “green” technologies, insurance activities, in the field of healthcare, and intensification of contacts between business  circles of the two countries, the implementation of new joint projects.

 As a result of the visit, a Cooperation Program was signed between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan and the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs of the Republic of Austria for 2024–2025.

 Bilateral meetings were also held with the heads of the OSCE, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), during which current areas of cooperation were discussed.  A Basic Cooperation Agreement was also signed between the Government of Turkmenistan and UNIDO.

 Summarizing the report, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov stated the effective nature of interaction with Austria, emphasizing the importance of actively developing productive ties in the trade and economic sphere, as well as in healthcare, education, culture, urban planning and other areas.

 Noting that the negotiations held in Vienna will contribute to the further strengthening of Turkmen-Austrian relations with a view to the future, the head of state approved the proposals presented, instructing to continue systematic work in this direction.