BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 10. Turkmenistan
and France discussed expanding trade-economic cooperation.
This was reflected in a statement by the Turkmen MFA following
talks between Minister Rashid Meredov and newly appointed French
Ambassador to country Alain Grand.
According to the Ministry, the sides discussed the current state
and prospects of Turkmen-French relations, with particular
attention paid to activating political-diplomatic, trade-economic
and cultural-humanitarian cooperation, as well as interaction
within international organizations.
The Ministry noted that, in the course of the meeting, the
parties also expressed interest in further expanding practical
cooperation and developing contacts in areas of mutual
interest.
The sides reaffirmed their readiness to make joint efforts to
further strengthen partnership between Turkmenistan and France, the
report says.
France has remained one of Turkmenistan's longstanding European
economic partners, with cooperation centered on construction,
energy, transport, aerospace and industrial technologies. French
companies such as Bouygues, Vinci, Thales Alenia Space and
TotalEnergies have been involved in major projects in Turkmenistan,
while Bouygues has operated in the country for more than three
decades and has built numerous landmark facilities in Ashgabat.
Economic contacts have intensified in 2025-2026. Chairman of the
country’s Halk Maslahaty (Parliament) Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov's
official visit to Paris in May 2025 resulted in a Turkmen-French
Economic Forum, meetings with President Emmanuel Macron and the
signing of nine cooperation documents covering energy, digital
technologies, education and archaeology.
Earlier this month, a Turkmen delegation held talks in Paris
with French companies and financial institutions, including Airbus,
Thales, TotalEnergies, Bouygues, VINCI, Société Générale CIB and
Crédit Agricole, with discussions focusing on investment,
infrastructure and industrial cooperation.
