Construction of New International Airport Begins in Ashgabat
Turkmenistan held a ceremony to launch the construction of the new international airport envisioned as the main air gate to the country. Turkish company Polimeks, which has a long history of working in Turkmenistan, signed a contract to build the facility. The new airport will have the capacity of 1600 passengers per hour. It will be able to receive any type of aircraft with any cargo capacity, while ensuring international standards of service. Construction is slated to start in January 2013 and the new airport is to be in commission in August 2016. According to a source in Polimeks, the cost of the new airport is 2 billion 253 million USD.
Sources: Turkmenistan.ru, gundogar.org
Turkmen State Assets Set For Privatization
Turkmen authorities have unveiled a list of state-owned assets set for privatization. State-run media reports said on February 4 that the assets to be sold in the March 9 auction include a shopping center, a food-production plant, and a chain of auto-repair shops in Ashgabat. Foreign and local investors will be allowed to participate in the auction. President Berdymukhamedov approved the program for privatizing state-owned property in November 2012. The privatization was scheduled to start this year and is planned to be finished in 2016. It is not clear if any of the natural-gas-rich country's energy-related assets will be included in the privatization. Turkmenistan's privatization move is considered significant because its economy is currently almost completely state-controlled.
Source: Radio Liberty / Radio Free Europe
First private mobile communications operator set up in Turkmenistan
The Turkmen Communications Ministry has held the first meeting of the board of founders of Altyn Asyr (TM Cell) closed joint-stock company, which provides mobile communications services, local media reported. According to Turkmen Dovlet Khabarlary state information service, the transformation of former Altyn Asyr mobile communications company of Turkmentelecom state company into Altyn Asyr JSC was the main topic on the agenda. The meeting participants discussed the foundational agreement, the charter, and the charter capital of the new company, as well as the election of a general director, board of directors and audit committee. Representatives of the Economy and Development Ministry, Finance Ministry, Supreme Chamber of Control, Central Bank and State Tax Service were invited to attend the meeting.
Source: azernews.com
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