RIYADH: Saudi Arabia and Turkmenistan have agreed to increase exports and imports between the two countries, with the Saudi side placing particular emphasis on petrochemical products. The agreement was reached at the conclusion of the first session of the Saudi-Turkmenistan Joint Committee Thursday, which resulted in the joint signing of a document containing recommendations in a variety of fields, notably for an increase in the volume of trade exchange and number of business visits between the two countries. It further recommended that measures be taken to hold trade fairs exhibiting the products and goods of both countries. The gathering was unanimous in its call for increased imports and exports and for drawing up proposals to market in both countries the goods and products of the other, with particular emphasis on Turkmenistan textiles and food products in the Saudi market and Saudi petrochemical products in Turkmenistan. The committee also reiterated the importance of cooperation between the various authorities in the two countries through the exchange of information and experience, and the need to intensify visits and hold symposiums in a number of fields. Representatives of both Saudi Arabia and Turkmenistan expressed the need for an agreement to promote and protect investment in the textile industries, petrochemicals, building and construction, transport, communications, tourism, hotel industry and agriculture. The capital of Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, is currently witnessing the Saudi Cultural Week which opened Wednesday with Turki Hashar, the Saudi ambassador to Turkmenistan, saying that Saudi-Turkmenistan relations were going through a period of “flourishing and development”. “The purpose of the Cultural Week is to convey heritage to various peoples, strengthen the relations of the Kingdom with other countries, to reach high goals that boost brotherly bilateral relations,” he said. “Bringing cultures together and the unity of religions and similarity of customs and traditions in the two countries allows greater harmony and integration,” he said. “The Ministry of Culture and Information and its officials have been keen to make the Cultural Week a success and make it an embodiment of the dazzling culture and civilization of the Kingdom.”
