On August 28, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov convened a regular session of the Cabinet of Ministers to consider the important issues of state life, as well as the drafts of some documents. Turning to the agenda of the meeting, the head of state gave the floor to Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers B. Hojamammedov. Reporting on implementation of the presidential commissions, the vice-premier informed about the progress of drafting the Investment Program of Turkmenistan for 2016. The Program was developed in association with the appropriate ministries and sectoral departments, scientific institutions, velayats’ and Ashgabat city’s khyakimliks. According to preliminary estimates, on the whole, in the country, the amount expected to be expended on the capital projects in 2015 will make up 51.5 billion manat. In 2016, budgeting for capital needs at the expense of all sources of financing is planned as 56.2 billion manat. Next year, 65.5 percent of the capital needs funding level falls on construction of the industrial-purpose objects, and 34.5 percent – on construction of social-cultural objects. In the after-report comments, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov noted that the Investment Program included implementation of comprehensive measures aimed at promoting uninterrupted construction of large facilities on processing hydrocarbon resources, advancement of other branches of the processing industry on the basis of enterprises of various types of ownership. At the same time, the document should include the measures on fostering the import-substituting and export-oriented industries development, improvement of food abundance at the expense of the AIC reforming, creation of new jobs in all regions of the country, and ensuring social security of the population. Focusing the vice-premier’s attention on a number of the issue-related priorities, the head of state gave to him concrete assignments. In her report, Cabinet Deputy Chairman M. Yazmuhammedova covered the ongoing work in the sectors answerable to her and the preparedness measures timed to celebrating the holidays and remarkable dates of the national calendar and the ceremonies of opening social- and cultural-purpose objects. In the after-report comments, highlighting the important role of national culture in the policy of progress and innovations pursued in the epoch of power and happiness, the head of state focused attention on the issues of improving the performance of institutions of culture and mass media with a glance to the scientific and technical progress. Then, Cabinet Deputy Chairman E. Orazgeldiev reported on the progress of seasonal agricultural works. It was noted that the winter crop seeding campaign is picking up speed in all regions; comprehensive preparation activities have been conducted to make successful the upcoming cotton-harvesting campaign; in Balkan and Mary velayats, work is in progress on managing the fields planted to sugar beet. The vice-premier reported also on the implementation of presidential commissions on increasing vegetable and melon production in the country, on activating introduction of the scientifically based crop rotation technologies. In particular, in 2016, the 33,160-hectare area will be allotted to be planted to potatoes, other vegetables, and cucurbits crop; 66,840 hectares – to feed crops and clover. Within the framework of report, information was presented on the preparation course of the country’s equestrian complexes for the autumnal racing season. In the report follow-up comments, the head of state has charged the vice-premier with conducting careful study of the land-utilization efficiency, with attaching systemic character to the measures on land reclamation and fertility rehabilitation, on managing the Land Cadastre application policy. President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov has expressed displeasure with insufficient looking for the trees planted. In this regard, having expressed unfavorable comments to the Ministry of Nature Protection, the head of state gave to him the issue-related instructions. Dwelling on the issues of the home horse-breeding further development, the President of Turkmenistan has obliged the vice-premier to get the work in the sector under strict control. The President of Turkmenistan focused attention on the need to ensure the uninterrupted operation of cotton conveyor, so that in due time to gather rich harvest of cotton grown in the country. Besides, the head of Turkmenistan addressed the vice-premier a number of concrete instructions on timely carrying out the winter crop seeding campaign. Next speaker, Cabinet Deputy Chairman S. Toilyev, reported on the state of affairs and ongoing work in the sectors he is responsible for. The vice-premier submitted for consideration of the head of state a draft Resolution on the issues of holding the 34th session of the Asia Olympic Council’s General Assembly in Turkmenistan. Vice-premier has also informed about the work progress on creating Internet-site of the 2017Asian Games which is conducted by the Games Executive Committee together with the Ministry of Communications of the country. Opening of the Internet-site is planned in three phases: the first – until December 2015; second – until May 2016; and third – until December 2016. Having signed the Resolution on the issues of holding the 34th session of the Asia Olympic Council’s General Assembly in Turkmenistan, the head of state gave to the vice-premier a number of concrete assignments for ensuring high organizational level of this representative forum. Then, the floor was given to Cabinet Deputy Chairman B. Hojamuhammedov, who reported on the implementation course of the “Development Program of the Oil/Gas Industry of Turkmenistan till 2030” and the situation in various sectors of the fuel and energy complex. In the comments to the report, the President of Turkmenistan addressed the vice-premier a number of concrete commissions related to increasing the work efficiency of the oil/gas industry’s structural divisions. As the head of state pointed out, primary attention is to be given to introducing new technologies, attracting foreign investments in the large infrastructure projects, including the ones on mining new hydrocarbon fields, constructing power transmission lines and modern gas-chemical complexes, as well as technical upgrading of the refinery facilities. State of affairs in the industrial sector of the national economy, as well as fulfillment of the presidential commissions was in the focus of the report made by Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers B. Ereshov. As it was noted in the report, due to taking comprehensive measures for fostering the chemical industry’s advancement, a number of construction projects are being implemented and the advanced technologies are actively introduced. Summarizing the report, the President of Turkmenistan has demanded to give special attention to increasing the mineral fertilizers production, given the country’s rich raw material resources base. In this regard, the head of state addressed the vice-premier a number of appropriate commissions. Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet S. Satlykov reported on the state of affairs in the sectors answerable to him, as well as on the preparations for the 9th International exhibition of telecommunications, telemetry, information technologies and broadcasting equipment - “Turkmentel-2015”, and the sectoral scientific conference to be held in the city of Ashgabat on September 16-18. Noting that today Turkmenistan pays great attention to the integrated development and modernization of the telecommunications sector, the nation’s leader placed accent on the need to further improve its activities and addressed thereupon a number of concrete assignments to the vice-premier. Cabinet Deputy Chairman Sh. Durdylyev submitted for approval of the President of Turkmenistan a draft Decree on prolongation of the contracts for electric power delivery from Turkmenistan to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. Vice-premier informed that at present, in the capital’s etraps, reconstruction of dwelling buildings and neighborhoods improvement l are under way in strict conformity with the plan. To improve the city’s road-and-transportation system, capital repair works are in progress in a number of streets which envision redevelopment and rehabilitation of the engineering systems. Stressing the continuance of Turkmenistan’s foreign policy aimed at rendering the all-round for promoting socio-economic and cultural development of neighboring Afghanistan, the head of state signed a Decree on prorogation of the contracts for electric power delivery from Turkmenistan to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, addressing the vice-premier a number of instructions relating to its execution. Having touched upon the Turkmen capital’s etraps further beautification, the leader of nation has necessitated intensification of those works paces and creation of every condition for the prosperous life of citizens. Then, the Cabinet Deputy Chairman, Chief Manager of Presidential and Cabinet Administration Office P. Taganov reported on the situation in departmental structures answerable to him, as well as on preparations for launching new facilities constructed in the Turkmen capital. In accordance with the presidential Resolution signed on April13, 2012, the Industrialists and Entrepreneurs Union of the country is involved in construction of modern buildings, industrial and social-purpose objects, reconstruction of objects in the velayats and Ashgabat city. Currently, the 300-car multilevel parking lot with a trade center on the first floor built in the capital is ready to be put into operation; opening is envisaged of the “Aşgabadyň ýalkymy” Trade Center and 300-car multi-level parking lot erected in the Gerogly Street. The report included information about fulfillment of the President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov’s assignments on regulating the volumes of certain types of food products imported into our country from abroad and on setting-up the import-substituting production facilities. The results of the analysis undertaken prove that production and technical goods prevail in the list of imported goods. The share of food imports is equal to 6.1 percent. Summarizing the running year’s seven-month results, 96.9 percent of fruit juices realized was produced in Turkmenistan; non-alcoholic beverages - 91.8percent; canned horticultural production – 87.2percent; and sausage products – 61.8 percent. Sufficient amounts of domestically produced sausage products, canned horticultural production, fruit juices and soft drinks speak in favor of the country’s possibilities to substitute import and saturate the home market with domestic goods. In this regard, the proposals were submitted for consideration by the head of state related to the customs duties imposed on certain food products imported from other countries. Focusing on taking practical steps for establishing new food-producing enterprises on the basis of local raw materials, for diversifying assortment of the foodstuff and articles produced, the nation’s leader has stressed the importance of studying the possibilities of increasing exports of domestic products. In general, approving the submitted offers, the head of state addressed the vice-premier a number of concrete instructions. At the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, consideration was also given to a number of other issues of state life, which took shape of the relevant decisions and resolutions.