The Turkmen-Croatian Business Forum, held in the Turkmen capital last week, turned to an interest-based exchange of opinions on potential and prospects for further development of cooperation. A representative delegation headed by Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Regional Development and EU Funds of the Republic of Croatia Mr. Branko Grčić had arrived in Turkmenistan to participate in the business meeting. Among the forum participants were representatives of government agencies of the friendly country, as well as the leading Croatian companies specializing in the field of shipbuilding, energy, oil and gas industry, transport, construction, and etc. Representatives of ministries and sectoral agencies, as well as the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Industrialists and Entrepreneurs Union of Turkmenistan were forum participants on the Turkmen side. In his speech, the head of the Republic of Croatia delegation has emphasized intense interest of the Croatian side in expanding cooperation with Turkmenistan, which demonstrates the impressive growth rates of the national economy under the leadership of President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov and enjoys high international prestige as an exceptionally perspective and reliable partner. While introducing the leading Croatian companies participating in the forum, the guest stated the willingness of Croatia’s business circles to take an active part in implementing new projects in various fields. In their presentations, representatives of the Turkmen and Croatian delegations made reports on the state of the national economies and prospects available, given the modern realities, in the interests of the two countries and nations. The forum participants were provided with detailed information about the economic potential and achievements of independent neutral Turkmen state, prospective areas of cooperation in the light of the national development priorities. In the course of the forum, the attendees have also noted that trade and economic partnership opens up ample opportunities at the level of private enterprises. In this regard, members of the Croatian delegation were acquainted with the trends of the private sector’s development in Turkmenistan, as the most important aspect of the national economic strategy. A video film shown at the forum gave the members of the Croatian delegation a clear insight into the scales of the radical reforms ongoing in Turkmenistan, which are aimed at our country’s successful integration into the global economic system and offer great opportunities for enhancing cooperation between the two countries. Joint projects and further directions of interaction were more specifically discussed in the course of bilateral meetings between representatives of ministries, agencies and the private sector of Turkmenistan and government agencies and companies of the Republic of Croatia.