On April 17, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov convened a regular session of the Cabinet of Ministers to consider the present-day tasks of branches of the national economy, the steps to be taken to ensure its further progressive development and other topical issues of state life, as well as to adopt some important documents. First speaker, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet A. Gochyev made a report on the state of affairs in the sectors he is in charge of. Reporting on the fulfillment of earlier presidential commissions, the Vice-Premier informed about the results of a financial analysis, carried out at the State Commodities and Raw Materials Exchange of Turkmenistan. Summing up the report, the head of state emphasized the importance of ensuring strict control over the timely realization of the measures, defined in the sectoral development programs, by financial and banking institutions. Having expressed dissatisfaction to Vice-Premiers A. Gochyev and P. Taganov with the inadequate organization of work in the supervised departments, non-systematic monitoring of their economic status, the leader of nation addressed a number of commissions on ensuring the activity of the Commodities and Raw Materials Exchange of Turkmenistan in compliance with present-day requirements. In her turn, Chairperson of Mejlis of Turkmenistan A. Nurberdyeva focused on the national parliament’s law-making activity. As informed, in the course of sessions, members of the Working Commissions considered and analyzed the proposals submitted for the improvement of the Constitution of Turkmenistan, and prepared a revised draft Constitution that would be put forward for consideration by the Constitutional Commission headed by the President of Turkmenistan. Having noted that the legislative activity is a main instrument of implementing the socially oriented state policy and reforms ongoing in the country, the leader of nation has said that the parliament’s activity should contribute to the improvement of living standards of the Turkmen people, strengthening of civil institutions and democratic values in society. In the context of the ongoing work on improving the country’s Constitution, the head of state stressed the importance of taking into account, studying and introducing the advanced experience and world standards into the national law enforcement practice. Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan R. Meredov reported on the outcomes of the state visit by our country’s government delegation, led by President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov, to the Republic of Korea on April 11-14. The report also included the information about preparations for the upcoming working visit by the President of Turkmenistan to the Republic of Turkey. Having emphasized the significance of systematic practical implementation of all the bilateral agreements reached, which had been embodied in the documents signed in the course of the visit to the Republic of Korea, the President of Turkmenistan gave the Vice-Premier a number of concrete issue-related commissions. The head of state also assigned to ensure a high organizational level of the preparations for the forthcoming working visit to the Republic of Turkey, destined to become one more step towards the development of traditionally friendly and fraternal relations between the two nations. Then, the floor was given to Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet A. Yazmyradov to report on the implementation progress of the seasonal agri-works. As noted, the cotton sowing campaign in the regions is gathering pace. At the same time, tending of winter grain crops, including mineral fertilizing is well under way. The Vice-Premier also centered on the preparations for Turkmen Horse Day, widely celebrated in our country. More than 500 foreign guests from 50 countries are expected to take part in the celebrations. The fifth session of the International Akhalteke Horse-Breeding Association, the VII International Scientific Conference –“Turkmen Horse and World Horse Breeding”, as well as an international specialized exhibition fair are to be organized in Ashgabat within the framework of festive events. Summarizing the report, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov demanded to once again thoroughly analyze the strategy of running the spring agricultural campaigns, first of all, the cotton sowing and upcoming grain harvesting. The head of state gave concrete issue-associated commissions, having placed special stress on the need to keep rigid control over compliance with all agro-technical standards, and active introduction of advanced technologies and scientific achievements into the agrarian sector. The President of Turkmenistan a number of assignments to the Vice-Premier on ensuring a high organizational level of the events to be held on the occasion of Turkmen Horse Day. Noting great interest in legendary Akhalteke horses throughout the world, which serves as a good platform for the development of fruitful cooperation in this field, the leader of nation has emphasized that with all-round support of the state Turkmen horse breeders are carrying out the fruitful work on preserving the purity of the breed, improving external conformation and increasing the number of these magnificent horses. The report of Deputy Chairperson of the Cabinet M. Yazmuhammedova was an extensive coverage of the preparation of cultural and artistic events in honor of Turkmen Horse Day. Among them are conferences, exhibitions, meetings and concerts, which are to take place at museums, libraries, carpet-making enterprises of the “Turkmenhaly” State Association, as well as equestrian sports complexes countrywide. Summing up the report, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov gave the Vice-Premier a number of commissions on holding the celebrations on the occasion of Turkmen Horse Day at a better and higher level in terms of organization and content. Festive events held in Turkmenistan, including creative contests, devoted to Akhalteke horses, play an important role in wide popularization of this unrivaled breed in the world, the leader of nation emphasized. In his turn, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet B. Hojamuhammedov informed about the course of preparations for another large-scale investment project at the Turkmenbashi Refinery Complex – construction of new facilities: a diesel fuel hydrotreating facility, a gasoline desulfurization unit, delayed coking and catalytic cracking units, producing hydrogen. The contract between the Turkmenbashi Refinery Complex and the consortium of Korean companies “LG International Corp.” and “Hyundai Engineering Co., Ltd.” for designing and constructing the facilities (turnkey project) was signed during the visit by the President of Turkmenistan to the Republic of Korea. In this connection, the relevant draft Resolution was submitted for consideration by the head of state. Having signed the Resolution “On constructing the facilities at the Turkmenbashi Refinery Complex”, the head of state gave the Vice-Premier a number of concrete instructions on promoting new infrastructure projects to be implemented in the oil-refining industry in short-term prospect. Then, the President of Turkmenistan signed a Resolution, in accordance with which an original 3,000-seat yurt-shaped building for holding mass cultural events, would be constructed in the city of Mary. The head of state assigned Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet B. Hojamuhammedov, who is in charge of Mary velayat, to get the project implementation under special control. Reporting on the activity of the sectors answerable to him, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet B. Ereshov focused on the project of structural reorganization of some textile industry enterprises in the capital. In particular, the changes will take place in the production processes and location of the “Argach” Wool-Spinning Enterprise of the “Turkmenhaly” State Association, the “Bahar” Sewing Production Association of the Ministry of Textile Industry and the Ashgabat Tannery. In the report follow-up comments, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov has noted that the textile industry is an important segment of the country’s industrial economy, and the main aims of the structural reorganizations in the industry are to step up the production of competitive products and attract investments. The leader of nation gave a number of commissions to the Vice-Premier on coordination of the activity of textile enterprises (which are a part of the single technological chain), as well as on the efficient organization of the work, encouraging more effective use of resources. Informing about the work ongoing in the supervised sectors, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet S. Toilyev concentrated on the preparation of the Innovative Activities Development Program of Turkmenistan for 2015-2020. As reported, the Program is destined to bring research activities in the scientific-technological field to a qualitatively new level, to promote the practical introduction of scientific achievements into production, to ensure a leading role of innovative technologies in the national economy’s modernization, and to intensify active international cooperation in this area. After the report having stressed the importance of the above-stated Program in the context of the priorities of Turkmenistan’s state policy oriented towards intensive application of the advanced scientific-technical achievements in all areas of state life and society, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov assigned to finalize it, taking into consideration a range of specified issues. Preparation of a draft Resolution on constructing modern buildings and facilities in the frames of the 15th phase of the Ashgabat Redevelopment Program was in the center of the report made by Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet, Manager of the Presidential and Cabinet Administration Office Sh. Durdylyev. In compliance with the document, residential houses for 1,472 families, including eighteen 12-story, eight 4-story, eight 3-story buildings, and 208 2-storey cottages are to be built. Most of the aforesaid houses will be constructed by local building companies. Having emphasized that participation in the large-scale town-planning program implementation would be a weighty contribution made by domestic entrepreneurs to the national economy’s development, the head of state assigned to use the private sector’s potential more actively in other sectors, as well. After signing the Resolution, the leader of nation has emphasized that all the buildings and facilities under construction in the capital should harmoniously blend with the rapidly changing architectural ensemble of Ashgabat. The report of Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet S. Satlykov covered the ongoing work on establishing the “Ashgabat Telephone Network” Closed Corporation to render telecommunications services, with share participation of the Ministry of Communications of Turkmenistan and the “Turkmentelekom” State Telecommunications Company. Having focused on all-round development and renovation of the city’s telecommunications sphere, the leader of nation signed the Resolution “On establishing the “Ashgabat Telephone Network” Closed Corporation”, and drew attention of the Vice-Premier to the importance of ensuring sectoral departments’ coordinated activity while tackling the tasks assigned. Reporting on the state of affairs in the supervised spheres, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet M. Artykov informed that in accordance with the Law of Turkmenistan “On the electric power industry”, specialists of the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Adalat had executed the relevant work on formulating regulations for the use of electric and heat energy, as well as on protecting the electric systems. Focusing on the use of advanced technologies, high performance, reliable equipment and materials in the implementation of sectoral projects, the leader of nation gave the Vice-Premier a number of concrete commissions. Dwelling upon the issues of drafting the relevant documents, the head of state stressed the significance of work in this area. It will enable to ensure stable electric power supply to meet annually growing domestic consumption, as well as to increase its exports via existing and new routes. Reporting on the state of affairs in the sectors, he is responsible for, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet P. Taganov informed about the preparations for the Turkmen-Italian Business Forum to be held in Ashgabat on April 23, in the framework of which new solutions and approaches to realization of the potential of bilateral cooperation and development of the trade-economic relations should be determined. To participate in the forum, a large delegation that consists of heads of numerous big companies and state organizations, specializing in different sectors of economy, will arrive in Turkmenistan from the Republic of Italy. The forum program also includes separate meetings between representatives of Turkmenistan’s ministries and sectoral agencies and Italian businessmen. Giving commissions on holding the business forum at a better and higher level in terms of organization and content, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov touched upon the issues of implementing the agreements reached earlier in a number of key areas, and the prospects for new investment projects. It is important to ensure that the forum will not only contribute to advancement of the economic relations between our countries, but also to quality improvement of the bilateral trade turnover, increase in the number of investment projects, and introduction of new technologies, the leader of nation said. A number of other important issues of state life were considered at the Cabinet session, and the appropriate resolutions were adopted.