
Ambitious goals set before Turkmen horse breeders
Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov set a number of large-scale goals for the horse-breeding industry of Turkmenistan during his visit to a new modern equestrian complex being built in Akhal province.
Relevant officials were instructed to allocate tracts of land in each province for the production of feed for horses, put on a scientific basis preparation of special food for purebred Akhal-Teke horses, as well as provide for the construction of specialized enterprises for production of fortified supplements for nutrition of horses.
He also put a task to open in Ashgabat, and eventually in all provinces of the country, small plants for production of various saddles, bridles, stirrups and other necessary supplies for horses and riders. Turkmenistan’s Steel Works was instructed to set up production of horse hooves.
According to the order of the president, each racetrack of Turkmenistan should be provided with special vehicles for transportation of Akhal-Teke horses.
As for breeding, the President of Turkmenistan issued instructions to set up a Research Institute of Horse Breeding and establish strict control over the conduct of the primary account of racers, build stables for breeding of purebred horses, and establish the work of veterinary services.
“We must also open up schools to train specialists-horse breeders. We should prepare all the necessary literature, from books and various manuals on breeding Akhal-Teke horses up to a set of rules for horse-riders taking part in international equestrian competitions. We should also ensure that special sand is used on racetracks and constantly monitor its quality,” the president said.
Issues relating to achieving these goals will be discussed soon at a special conference of the International Association of Akhal Teke breeding headquartered in Ashgabat.
Mario Ronconi, Head of EC’s Central Asia Section of the EuropeAid Co-operation Office is on a visit to the Turkmen capital in these days.
The international forum entitled “Central Asia Water Dialogue Meeting: Implementation of the IFAS Summit Conclusions and Outcomes of the UN Secretary-General’s visit to Central Asia” took place in the Turkmen capital. The participants of the forum held at the UN Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia were the high-ranking officials of the Central Asian governments and the authoritative international organizations including the United Nations, the European Union, OSCE, the World Bank and the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS). The representatives of the Afghan Government and UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan took part as observers. 

The first meeting of the intergovernmental Turkmen-French Commission for economic cooperation was held in conference hall of the President Hotel in Ashgabat. The heads and representatives of the government institutions of Turkmenistan and the French Republic participated in the forum.The commission is co-chaired by Vice Premier D. Orazov for Turkmenistan and Anne-Marie Idrac, Minister of State for Foreign Trade for the French Republic. 