President of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, held the regular session of the Cabinet of Ministers where the outcomes of work in the sectors of the national economy in the past five months have been reviewed, and several draft documents discussed.
As reported at the session, data for January�May 2017 confirms the dynamic growth of the national economy. The GDP increased by 6.3 per cent, including the rise by 2.9 per cent in the industrial sector; by 4.1 per cent in construction; by 10.8 per cent in transport and communications; by 9.5 per cent in trade; by 3.6 per cent in agriculture; and by 10.2 per cent in the service sector.
In the five months the retail trade turnover increased by 17.2 per cent as opposed to the last year's figures. Compared to the similar period in 2016, the average monthly salary went up by 9.1 per cent. State budget revenues equaled to 6.43 billion manats, while the expenditures amounted to 6.40 billion manats. Salaries, state benefits, pensions and bursaries have been paid in full.
It has been reported that the volume of implemented investments under all funding sources, in comparison with the similar period in the previous year, reached 16.8 billion manats.
It has been stated that during the reporting period the 105.2 per cent of the oil and gas condensate production plan; 101.7 per cent of the hydrocarbon resources processing plan; and 105.7 per cent of the blue fuel export plan have been fulfilled. Targets in production of oil products have been met including 105.8 per cent in gasoline production; 104.2 in diesel fuel production; 105.8 per cent in polypropylene production; 115.4 per cent in lubricant production; by 119.3 per cent in liquefied gas production. Construction of the Turkmenistan part of the Turkmenistan�Afghanistan�Pakistan�India (TAPI) pipeline is progressing as scheduled.
Information has been presented on ongoing seasonal agricultural works. Inter-row treatment, watering and nutrition of cotton crops continue. Preparation of grain collection points, and grain combine harvesters and vehicles for the harvesting season is underway.
President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov has stressed that the main task facing the grain farmers is to quickly harvest the crops without waste, and gave his blessing to begin the grain harvesting season in Ahal, Balkan, Lebap and Mary provinces on 7 June, and in Dashoguz on 14 June.
According to the outcomes of January�May 2017 in the industrial sector, the Ministry of Industry has fulfilled the 118.5 per cent of the planned scope of production, works and services for this period. The overall growth rate is similar to the previous year's figures, particularly, in production of reinforced concrete structures the rise amounted to 2 per cent; in production of haydite to 4.1 per cent; in production of fixtures, angle bars and special sections by 3.1 per cent.
113.7 per cent of the the production plan of the Ministry of Textile Industry has been fulfilled. The growth rate has reached 6 per cent.
In Turkmenhimiya State Concern, the volume of manufactured products and scope of completed works in the five months equaled to 105.9 per cent of the target plan. Particularly, the plan for production of technical iodine reached 120.9 per cent; while the growth rate in sodium sulfate production amounted to 1.9 per cent.
It has been reported that the volume of the total trade turnover of the Ministry of Trade and Foreign Economic Relations of Turkmenistan equaled to 1 billion 768.8 million manats, including the retail trade turnover of 722.4 million manats, which exceeds the figures of the similar period in the previous year by 12.3 per cent. Results for several other agencies have been presented as well.
From January to May, the State Commodity and Raw Materials Exchange has registered 101 trade sessions; 4 759 contracts worth 8 billion 556 million manats, including export and import agreements worth over 7 billion 350 million manats.
In the five months, the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs has produced industrial products worth 255 million manats; agricultural and food products worth 395 million manats; the scope of construction works reached 1.9 billion manats; the trade turnover amounted to 4.7 billion manats. Works worth 404 million manats have been completed in the service sector.
President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov stressed that capital investments in generating innovative production and renovating the existing enterprises facilitate the increase in production volumes and expansion of the variety of competitive products. Efforts must be strengthened to establish trade houses in other countries; organize joint ventures; develop the trade system, said the head of state, and gave relevant instructions to expand the range of trade offers and services.
It has been stated that the summer holiday activities are being organized. The first session at 14 children's wellness centers will welcome 7 095 children; 8 centers in Avaza will host 1 783 children; the new 6 centers in the country's provinces will open their doors to 1500 children, while the 12 previously commissioned provincial wellness centers will welcome 480 young Turkmens. 535 school camps will welcome 14 865 children.
The report has been presented on the progress of construction, by the order of the Ministry of Healthcare and Medical Industry, of the International Center of Surgery and Endocrinology in Ashgabat; the Avaza sanatorium in Turkmenbashi; and the children's hospital in Mary.
From January to May, 131 local competitions and 67 public sports events have been held in the country. Turkmen athletes took part in 71 international tournaments and won 375 medals (132 gold, 119 silver and 124 bronze).
Speaking on the issues of hosting the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, the head of state gave instructions on developing the international partnership in sports and stressed the importance of training specialists and creating all necessary conditions for improving the athletes' skills.
The national leader also set the task of keeping under constant control the works on deeper study of the glorious history of the Turkmen people and its wider promotion throughout the globe.
The report has been presented on the progressive realization of the Concept of Foreign Policy Course of Turkmenistan for 2017�2023, based on the principles of positive neutrality, good-neighborliness and constructive cooperation. Special emphasis is placed on the expansion of commercial, economic, cultural and humanitarian cooperation.
Several other issues pertaining to the state affairs have also been reviewed at the Cabinet session.
Source: Turkmenistan: the Golden Age Online Newspaper