Turkmenistan News Gazette

Azerbaijani gymnasts showcased their talent and skill by winning four medals, including two golds, at the 2024 Acrobatic Gymnastics World Cup held in the city of Burgas, Bulgaria. The mixed pair Aghasif Rahimov and Raziya Seyidli, along with junior women's group conisisting of Zahra Rashidova, Anahita Bashiri, and Nazrin Zeyniyeva, achieved remarkable success by securing gold medals at the tournament. The men`s pair Murad Rafiyev and Daniel Abbasov, as well as the men's acro quartet featuring Riad Safarov, Abdulla Al-Mashaykhi, Seymur Jafarov, Seyidli Rasul, and Riad Safarov, clinched silver medals in the competition. Source: Azerbaijan State News Agency

TASHKENT: Chinese Hunan Industrial Equipment Installation Co., Ltd. may construct a toll road with a length of 171 kilometers in Uzbekistan, Trend reports. The matter was reviewed at a meeting between governor of Surkhandarya region Ulugbek Kasimov and the delegation of Chinese Hunan Industrial Equipment Installation Co., Ltd. The sides discussed the project of construction of a toll road with a length of 171 kilometers with all modern conditions and amenities parallel to the highway M41 Bishkek-Dushanbe-Termiz. During the meeting, both parties noted the environmental and economic aspects of road construction, in particular, the issues of minimizing the displacement of settlements and trees, as well as minimizing the impact of the project on nature. The participants decided to work together to improve the project with the involvement of experts. Meanwhile, Sojitz (a Japanese company) and Ronesans (a Turkish company) plan on participating in projects on the construction of toll roads in Uzbekistan. The s ides discussed the matter of cooperation in the implementation of public-private partnership (PPP) projects in the transport sector. Source: Trend News Agency

BAKU: Latvia seeks collaboration with Azerbaijan in logistics and cargo transportation along international transport corridors, State Secretary of the Latvian Ministry of Agriculture Raivis Kronbergs said at the Azerbaijan-Latvia Business Forum, Trend reports. 'Given the new geopolitical realities, such cooperation is important for us,' Kronbergs said. Deputy Economy Minister of Azerbaijan Sahib Mammadov said the geographical location of Azerbaijan, which is part of numerous transport corridors, can be very beneficial for Latvia. 'Given the logistical challenges of cargo transportation from Asia to Europe amid shifting global geopolitics, the East-West transport corridor, part of the historic Silk Road, becomes the shortest trade route between Europe and China, facilitating intercontinental connectivity,' Mammadov emphasized. He added that Azerbaijan has developed the largest marine trading port on the Caspian, with a 15-million-ton-per-year capacity that can be enlarged to 25 million. 'My praise goes to the Baku Shipyard, which builds vessels for effective cargo transport in the Caspian region,' Mammadov said. He expressed the opinion that the Middle Corridor, as an integral part of the Silk Road, is gaining popularity and is experiencing steady growth in the volume of traffic handled. 'The Middle Corridor may be of interest to Latvia and the Baltic States,' the deputy minister said. According to him, the volume of cargo transported along this route increased by 86 percent to 2.7 million tons in 2023. 'This suggests that Latvian enterprises' active participation will enhance partnership ties,' Mammadov added. Source: Trend News Agency

BISHKEK: The first stage of Karkyra eco-resort construction has begun in the Tup district of Kyrgyzstan's Issyk-Kul region, Trend reports. According to the presidential representation in the Issyk-Kul region, Constantine Kutsenko, the head of the eco-resort, announced during an event marking the beginning of construction that it is divided into six stages. "This facility offers many services and can accommodate 5,000 holidaymakers. This project is anticipated to cost $192 million. Total ski slope length is 100.7 kilometers, and cable car length will be 20.7 kilometers," he noted. Kutsenko emphasized that advanced innovative technologies for wastewater treatment and heating will be used at this facility to preserve the ecology, which comply with the legal acts of Kyrgyzstan and international standards. To note, President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Zhaparov laid the cornerstone for this facility's construction on December 6, 2023. Source: Trend News Agency

BAKU: There are abundant opportunities to diversify the range of products and enhance trade volume between Azerbaijan and Latvia, Azerbaijani Deputy Economy Minister Sahib Mammadov said at the Azerbaijan-Latvia Business Forum, Trend reports. 'These robust exchanges and productive interactions between our heads of state have fostered a strategic cooperation between our nations. We've built a strong bilateral legal framework with 45 signed documents, including the Declaration on Strategic Partnership. Further strengthening our cooperation are agreements on investment promotion, mutual protection, and double taxation avoidance,' Mammadov said. He added that the trade turnover between the countries amounted to $65 million in 2023. Azerbaijan's exports to Latvia increased by 64 percent, reaching $45 million, while imports amounted to $20 million. In the first quarter of 2024, the trade turnover amounted to $6 million. 'Moreover, there are abundant avenues to diversify product offerings and bolster trade volume , encompassing reciprocal import and export of several competitive goods. Investment cooperation stands as another vital facet of our economic relations. It's worth mentioning that between 1995 and 2023, direct investments from Latvia to Azerbaijan totaled $166 million, while investments from Azerbaijan to Latvia amounted to the same figure. Thus, we maintain balanced cooperation, yet both sides acknowledge the imperative for its proactive advancement,' the deputy minister said. He noted that out of the 69 Latvian companies registered in Azerbaijan as of February this year, 48 are operational in sectors such as industry, transportation, trade, and services. 'Additionally, it's worth mentioning that Latvia and Azerbaijan have collaboratively engaged in eight twinning projects funded by the European Union, totaling 9 million euros. This underscores our dedication to partnership across various endeavors,' Mammadov added. Source: Trend News Agency

BAKU: The Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Agency (AZPROMO) plans to hold a 'Dialogue with Business' on May 17 as part of the 2024 COP29 events, AZPROMO Executive Director Yusif Abdullayev said at the Azerbaijan-Latvian business forum on May 13, Trend reports. 'Our structure will organize the first forum for business with the participation of foreign companies within the framework of COP29 on May 17. We'll also organize an investment conference in November within the framework of COP29,' Abdullayev emphasized. To note, this November, Azerbaijan will host COP29. This decision was made at the COP28 plenary meeting held in Dubai on December 11 last year. Baku will become the center of the world and will receive about 70-80,000 foreign guests. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is an agreement signed at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992 to prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system. COP-the Conference of the Parties-is the highest legislative bod y overseeing the implementation of the Framework Convention on Climate Change. There are 198 countries that are parties to the Convention. Unless the parties agree otherwise, the COP is held annually. The first COP event took place in March 1995 in Germany's Berlin, and its secretariat is located in Bonn. Source: Trend News Agency

BAKU: The restoration of Azerbaijan's Mahruzlu and Zilanly villages, Gubadli district, has begun, Trend reports. The earthwork for the houses has been finished, the foundations have been dug, and the concrete pouring is proceeding according to the two villages' master plans. Mahruzlu is located 19 kilometers away from the district center. The total projected area of ??the village is 197 hectares. The first stage involves building 190 houses on 40.27 hectares and relocating 836 people. The village will have a school, kindergarten, administrative building, multifunctional building, market complex, public club, sports and leisure center, medical center, ceremonial hall, and teahouse. Zilanly is located 20 kilometers away from the district center, and its total area is 180.04 hectares. In the first stage, it's planned to construct 193 houses on an area of ??43.5 hectares and resettle 926 people. This village will also have a school, kindergarten, public club, family health and sports centers, as well as an administrative building. The houses to be built in both villages will have two, three, four, and five rooms. It's also planned to complete the construction of the villages in the first phase by the end of this year and carry out the first resettlement of the population into the houses under construction. Following the liberation of its territories from Armenian occupation in 2020, Azerbaijan initiated the long-awaited 'Great Return' program, which envisions the return of IDPs to their native lands. Up to date, the former IDPs have returned to Lachin and Fuzuli cities, the villages of Talish (Aghdara district), Aghali (Zangilan district), Zabukh, and Sus (Lachin district), as well as Shusha city. Source: Trend News Agency

BAKU: The main work related to infrastructure at Azerbaijan's Karabakh University will be completed by the end of June, Minister of Science and Education Emin Amrullayev told reporters on the sidelines of the 2nd ICESCO Ministerial Conference on PISA (Program for International Student Assessment) in Baku on May 13, Trend reports. 'The university is expected to provide free education to 1,200 students. At the same time, they will be provided with a hostel. We are working to provide additional scholarships to students with high scores in each specialty,' he emphasized. To note, Karabakh University was established by the decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on November 28, 2023. Classes at the newly established university are scheduled to start on September 15, 2024. The Charter of Karabakh University was endorsed by the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers on February 6, 2024. Furthermore, on February 15, 2024, the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan received an al location of 10 million manats from the President's reserve fund, ordered by President Ilham Aliyev, for the establishment of Karabakh University. Karabakh has a longstanding tradition of higher education. In 1969, the region saw the founding of its first higher education institution, a branch of the Azerbaijan Pedagogical Institute. This institution operated as a higher education facility from 1973 to 1988. During the Armenian occupation period, its activities were halted. Source: Trend News Agency

BISHKEK: Italy is keen on increasing collaboration with the Central Asian region as a whole, especially with Kyrgyzstan, said Italian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Member of the Lower House of the Parliament of Italy, Edmondo Cirielli, Trend reports. He made these remarks during a meeting with Kyrgyzstan's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Zheenbek Kulubaev. Cirielli also highlighted that expanding trade and economic ties is a priority, as evidenced by the presence of Italian business association leaders in the delegation accompanying him. Meanwhile, Kulubaev expressed interest in expanding cooperation in areas such as trade and investment. He emphasized the need for high-level visits between the two countries. The parties also discussed the international agenda, as well as the cooperation between the two countries within international organizations, including the UN. They particularly focused on advancing a joint initiative on sustainable mountain development and hosting the Global Mountain Summit in Bishkek in 2027. Deputy Foreign Minister Cirielli arrived in Kyrgyzstan to participate in Kyrgyz-Italian inter-ministerial consultations. According to the State Statistical Committee of Kyrgyzstan, the trade turnover between the countries amounted to $18.683 million from January through February 2024, which is 2.1 times more than $8.714 million during the corresponding months of 2023. Source: Trend News Agency