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Secretary General advocates Energy Charter for the development of Turkmenistan's oil and gas industry

Investment opportunities in the country's energy sector were the focus of the 2012 Turkmenistan Oil and Gas Road Show, which took place in Berlin on 14-15 March. This event brought together ministers and senior officials from Turkmenistan and more than 250 delegates representing governments and companies from Europe, Asia and the United States. The Secretary General Rusnák was invited as a keynote speaker on the topic of "Turkmenistan's Role in the International Oil and Gas Industry: Special Focus on Europe".

Dr. Rusnák welcomed Turkmenistan's intention to play a major role in international energy markets and to contribute to overall energy security, as this would strongly boost the country's economic development and position it as an important player in international relations. In the Secretary General's view, Turkmenistan's decision to open up to foreign partners and to reform its energy sector will be met very favourably by the investor community. In that context, and with Turkmenistan's active role in the Energy Charter Process since its early days, Dr. Rusnák highlighted the benefits of the Energy Charter Treaty's investment protection and transit provisions and argued that the Energy Charter could contribute in a significant way to the development of Turkmenistan's oil and gas industry.

During the Conference, Dr. Rusnák met with Mr. Baymyrad Hojamuhamedov, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan and Mr. Bairamgeldy Nedirov, Minister of Oil and Gas Industry and Mineral Resources. The Secretary General commended the Turkmen side on the ambitious plans for the development of the country's vast natural resources and offered the Energy Charter's assistance, particularly in view of transport infrastructure diversification for exports to Europe and Asia. In the context of the Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan–India (TAPI) gas pipeline project, he also discussed the importance of Pakistan and Afghanistan, which have already fulfilled their accession reports in order to become members of the Energy Charter Treaty.

Furthermore, the Secretary General held a series of meetings with representatives of companies from Turkmenistan, Germany, United Arab Emirates, China and Russia which are engaged in Turkmenistan.