This morning, in the building of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the International Forum on Attracting Foreign Investments to the Oil and Gas Sector of Turkmenistan has begun its work, timed to coincide with the 30th anniversary of the independence of our country.

 The Forum was organized by the State Concerns «Turkmengas» and «Turkmennebit», the State Corporation «Turkmengeology», as well as the Ministry of Finance and Economy of Turkmenistan in partnership with the EC «Turkmen Forum» with the support of the British company GaffneyCline.

 The event, that also takes place online, is attended by about 500 delegates from 42 countries, representing more than 160 international oil and gas and investment companies, as well as leading experts from large international structures and financial institutions.

 At the very beginning of the Forum, its participants heard an official greeting from President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. In it, the head of the state emphasized that “The intensive development of oil and natural gas-rich fields with the attraction of foreign investment is one of the priorities for the development of the country's oil and gas complex.  The discovery of new fields and the expansion of their areas, the drilling of new wells are carried out jointly with foreign companies within the framework of the concluded contracts and agreements”.

 The President also expressed confidence that «the current International Forum will be of great importance in the exchange of experience of businessmen of our country with foreign partners, discussion of mutually beneficial projects, and the establishment of promising cooperation».

 The agenda of the Forum includes topical topics of the national and global oil and gas sector, current trends in its development. During the plenary session «Global trends in energy markets and prospects for mutually beneficial cooperation», the Minister of Finance and Economy of Turkmenistan Mukhammetgeldi Serdarov, Deputy Chairman of the State Concern «Turkmengas» Guvanch Agajanov made speeches.

 Among the foreign speakers are SOCAR President Rovnag Abdullayev, Chinese Ambassador to Turkmenistan Qian Nicheng, British Prime Minister's Trade Envoy Baroness Nicholson Winterbourne.

 Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) Armida Salcia Alisjabana and Secretary General of the International Energy Forum (IEF) Joseph McMonigle sent a video message to the forum participants.

 The work of the Forum continues.