Turkmenistan and the Federal Republic of Germany established diplomatic relations in 1992. After Turkmenistan became permanently neutral, the countries created a reliable political basis and legal framework for a partnership that is successfully developing in both bilateral and multilateral formats. Historian, political scientist and columnist Janna Georgiyevna Povelitsyna told CentralAsia.news about the key areas of cooperation between the states.
Priorities
Turkmenistan considers Germany as one of its leading business partners. In turn, Germany shows great interest in deepening effective cooperation with Turkmenistan. Ashgabat established fruitful contacts with the largest representatives of German business.
The priority areas of interaction are agriculture, energy sector, financial system, medical industry and pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and healthcare. German companies make a significant contribution to the implementation of long-term projects in Turkmenistan, which clearly demonstrates their interest in developing mutually beneficial cooperation.
Trade
Trade turnover between Turkmenistan and Germany amounted to more than 180 million euros in 2021.
The main directions of Turkmen export to Germany are cotton, plastics and machinery. Turkmenistan imported various chemicals, mineral raw materials, pharmaceutical products, electrical and telecommunication equipment, and furniture from Germany.
German companies
There are about 50 German companies operating in Turkmenistan. Companies such as Siemens, Daimler, Rohde & Schwarz, Dresser-Rand, MAN, Bosch and others make a significant contribution to the implementation of long-term projects in Turkmenistan. PWT Wasser und Abwassertechnik, together with Turkmen businessmen, built a high-tech plant for desalination of salt sea water on the shores of the Caspian Sea. Monforts supplies innovative equipment for the Turkmen textile industry.
Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank are long-term and reliable partners of Turkmenistan in the financial sector.
On September 26, the Chairman of the CLAAS joint stock company and the head of the Eastern Committee of the German Economy Cathrina Claas-Muhlhauser visited Ashgabat to participate in the celebrations of the 32nd anniversary of independence. She met with President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and Chairman of the Halk Maslakhaty Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.
The parties discussed issues of partnership in investment and trade areas. They paid special attention to the supply of tractors and combine harvesters to Turkmenistan. They noted that the machines work well in the soil and climatic conditions of the republic. Ashgabat expressed its readiness to consider partners’ proposals for further cooperation.
A CLAAS Training Center opened at the Turkmen Agricultural University named after S.A. Niyazov. The Turkmen Agricultural Institute in Dashoguz has a CLAAS classroom.
Prospects
Now, new broad prospects are opening up for cooperation in the field of transport and energy, innovative technologies, investments, digitalization and the green economy.
In June 2023, a delegation of Turkmen business circles visited Germany. 35 representatives of the public and private sector took part in the Turkmen Economy Day in Dusseldorf. The greatest attention was paid to partnership issues in the petrochemical, construction, food and textile industries. The event was organized with the support of the German-Turkmen Forum.
In October 2023, a Turkmen-German business forum is planned to be held in Germany. It will be organized with the assistance of the Eastern Committee of the German Economy.
Healthcare
The traditional area of interstate cooperation between Turkmenistan and Germany is long-term interaction in the field of healthcare. Leading German development companies are long-time partners of Turkmenistan in equipping modern medical institutions built in Turkmenistan with advanced specialized equipment. Contacts between domestic and German doctors are regular. They facilitate the effective exchange of experience in the field of medical science and practice.
Education
One of the priority areas of Turkmen-German relations is humanitarian cooperation, in particular science and education. German is taught at schools and universities of Turkmenistan.
Culture
Cooperation between Turkmen and German cultural figures is developing. The Turkmen ensemble regularly go on tours in Germany under the direction of conductor Rasul Klychev, and the Turkmen public attends concerts of German opera singers and musicians, which are organized by the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Museum affairs is also one of the areas of partnership between Turkmenistan and Germany. The exhibition «Margiana: A Bronze Age Kingdom in Turkmenistan» was held at German museums.
Partnership potential
German Ambassador to Turkmenistan Michael Uwe Bierhoff emphasizes that «increasing long-term, full-scale cooperation with Turkmenistan under the leadership of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov is among the strategic vectors of the foreign policy of Germany and the European Union as a whole».
President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov noted that relations between Turkmenistan and the Federal Republic of Germany are multifaceted and developing in an ascending line. The head of the Turkmen state underlined the solid potential for intensifying bilateral partnerships in various directions and implementing new promising projects.
Meeting between the head of Germany and Central Asian leaders
On the occasion of the 32nd anniversary of independence of Turkmenistan, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier sent a congratulatory letter to the Turkmen leader. He noted the intensity of development of relations in the political, economic and cultural spheres. The politician emphasized that Berlin is ready to continue supporting Ashgabat’s efforts aimed at economic modernization and democratic development.
The head of state added that a substantive discussion of partnership will take place in Berlin at a meeting between Frank-Walter Steinmeier and the leaders of Central Asian countries. Negotiations will take place at Bellevue Palace on September 29.
