Belarus and Turkmenistan are able to raise trade to $1 billion, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to Turkmenistan Oleg Tabanyukhov declared on March 29.
“Our embassy should treble our efforts. Our task is to raise the trade to $1 billion. Today we are exploring the ways to accomplish this task,” Oleg Tabanyukhov said.
In 2016 the Belarusian exports to Turkmenistan exceeded $112 million. Belarus sold earthwork machines and equipment, freight railcars, tractors, tractor units, elevators, structural steel, medications, ethanol, special vehicles, electric transformers, building structures, cheese and quark. Belarus’ export of services to Turkmenistan made up around $160 million in 2016. The exports of educational services amount to $20 million a year. The two countries can increase trade in construction, healthcare, tourism, business and IT.
“This is not the limit. The peak year was 2013 when our exports to Turkmenistan made up $320 million. That year we sold much equipment for the Garlyk mining and processing factory and signed many equipment supply contracts,” Oleg Tabanyukhov explained.
Increased supplies of Belarusian agricultural equipment to Turkmenistan can help raise the trade although the competition in this sector is strong.