Turkmenistan proposes Russia to launch a common regular maritime traffic on the Caspian Sea. President Serdar Berdimuhamedov said this during a meeting with the governor of Astrakhan Region (Russia) Igor Babushkin.
"The president noted the expediency of opening a regular shipping line between the port of Turkmenbashi and the ports of the Astrakhan region," local TV channel Altyn Asyr reported.
In the long term, maximizing the potential of Turkmenbashi International Sea Port will be in high demand, the report says.
The interlocutors also discussed options for cooperation in shipbuilding.
In May 2018, a new international port built by Gap Inşaat (Turkey) for $1.5bn with an annual capacity of up to 18mn tonnes was opened in the city of Turkmenbashi. Together with the previously operating port - cargo volumes could reach 25-26mn tonnes.
Turkmenistan is negotiating the construction of its logistics centre in Astrakhan. The project is generally seen as a platform for freight forwarders and transport companies with simplified customs, brokerage and warehousing services.
The centre is expected to open on the territory of the Astrakhan port of the special economic zone Lotos, which is designed to increase the cargo turnover of the water transport hub of the Astrakhan region almost fourfold.
In due time, the Astrakhan shipyards fulfilled Turkmenistan's order for construction of oil platforms and repair of several tugs, vessels and tankers worth $750mn.
Ashgabat is now interested in developing its own shipbuilding industry, and the "Balkan" in the international port of Turkmenbashi acts as a flagship. It is capable of building up to six ships a year, and Russian companies are offering their assistance in its development.
Credits: Eziz Boyarov, Ashgabat
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