The ninth meeting of the Joint Turkmen-Tatarstan Working Group on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technical and Cultural Cooperation was held in Kazan on August 27. During the meeting, topical issues of cooperation between the two regions were discussed, including the decline in trade and Turkmenistan’s debt. This was reported in the Chronicle of Turkmenistan.
It is reported that despite the growth of trade between Tatarstan and Turkmenistan by 13.4% in 2023, reaching $52.3 million, a significant decrease was noted compared to previous years. In particular, in 2019, this figure was twice as high. Minister of Finance and Economy of Turkmenistan Serdar Jorayev emphasized the need to increase trade, pointing to the need for more active cooperation in this area.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade of Tatarstan Oleg Korobchenko confirmed the fact of the decline in trade turnover and proposed to work together to solve this problem. He emphasized the importance of strengthening mutual cooperation, given the important role of Turkmenistan as a trading partner of Tatarstan.
Debt issues
One of the key issues discussed at the meeting was Turkmenistan’s debt to Tatarstan, which arose due to problems with interbank settlements. Although the exact amount of the debt was not announced, representatives of Turkmenistan assured that this issue is under control and is being resolved with the participation of the Central Banks of Turkmenistan and Russia. This indicates the seriousness of the problem and the importance of its speedy resolution to stabilize trade and economic relations between the two sides.
Currently, Turkmenistan remains an important partner of Tatarstan in such industries as mechanical engineering and oil refining. In recent years, Tatarstan has supplied equipment and goods to Turkmenistan, including 852 KAMAZ vehicles and the second high-speed sea vessel A145E in 2020. Medicines and medical supplies worth over $8 million were also delivered. On the bright side, the working group meeting demonstrated the willingness of both sides to strengthen cooperation and overcome existing obstacles. It is important to continue working together to improve trade and economic relations between Turkmenistan and Tatarstan. But should we continue to trust a dictatorial regime? After all, according to numerous testimonies, Turkmen state funds are often used for the personal enrichment of the ruling elite. Berdimuhamedov and his family are accused of establishing control over key sectors of the Turkmen economy, including the gas industry, which is the country’s main source of income. It is suspected that part of the income from the sale of gas and other natural resources ends up in the accounts of the ruling family and their closest associates. Also, during Berdimuhamedov’s rule, state money was often used to finance personal projects and buildings, such as luxurious palaces, monuments, and sports facilities that were erected in the president’s honor. These projects often had no significant benefit to the general population and served mainly to demonstrate the power and wealth of the president. Meanwhile, ordinary people continue to live in poverty and starve.
In addition, Turkmenistan ranks among the worst in the world for press freedom. Independent journalists and international organizations constantly face difficulties when trying to investigate and report on corrupt practices in the country. This creates an atmosphere of impunity and allows the authorities to hide the details of their financial machinations. The authoritarian regime in the country makes it difficult for external checks and audits of the use of public funds. The government tightly controls all information and does not allow outside observers to inspect public finances. Maybe because they have something to hide?
All the allegations are supported by reports from organizations such as Human Rights Watch and Transparency International, which note the high level of corruption and authoritarianism in Turkmenistan. These data paint a picture of systematic corruption that permeates all levels of government in Turkmenistan and allows the country’s leadership to use state resources for their own personal gain.
