ASHGABAT, February 27 (Itar-Tass) —— Turkmenistan heads for industrialization of the economy, wellbeing at the level of medium class and gradual introduction of a multi-party system.
These are the priorities, which the country’s President elect Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov outlined in an interview with Russia’s Turkmenistan magazine. He was re-elected on February 12, when the country’s 97 percent of the vote supported his candidature.
“I became older, which also means more experienced, I gained a new understanding of the huge responsibility of a country leader,” he said comparing his first presidential term with “student times.” “Speaking about presidential obligations, the ‘live and learn’ saying reflects fully my way of life.”
“My soul does not have room for compromises about the country’s life,” he continued. “But when dealing with international relations, it became clear that ready decisions of complicated questions practically never happen. This taught me flexibility and tolerance.”
Among priorities of the country’s economic development the president highlighted first of all “the direction for further industrialization, organization of modern production facilities with complete processing cycles, be they in the fuel and energy complex, in the chemical industry, agriculture or construction materials sector or in other directions.” He highlighted “the necessity of further supporting the country’s favourable investment climate” and spoke about “today’s readiness to follow the experience of many Asian leading countries – to host production facilities of major international high technology brands.”
“The focus on intensifying of the economy is a major final objective of better concern about the nation’s wellbeing,” Berdymukhamedov stressed.
Speaking about plans to support the country’s entrepreneurship, the president said “our task is not to grow the middle class artificially, but to provide living and working conditions where the wealth of the middle class could be accessible to every family.”
“No matter where a person is working – in the budget sphere, at a state-run company, at a private company or at an enterprise of a foreign investor – his or her earnings along with a big state social package should ideally conform to a middle class member,” Berdymukhamedov explained.
Turkmenistan’s social package includes free electricity, gas and water, a symbolic fee for housing maintenance, and for car owners – free 1,440 liters of petrol a year, where the state oil price is 22 cents.
Commenting on the importance of the country’s first law on political parties, the president paid attention to “natural and harmonized democratic processes in Turkmenistan,” warning that “there are many examples in the world, where democratic slogans have been used to bring to the surface destructive, or even openly radical forces.”
“Gradual implementation of a multi-party system is reasonable as another evolution instrument of supporting civil agreement and unanimity of objectives on the way towards booming,” the president said.
Speaking about formation of the new government, Berdymukhamedov said that “the present Cabinet of Ministers is rather “young”. It is a team of like-minded persons, who realize the high requirements the time presents.”