On June 18, the IOFS team conducted an introductory webinar for the government of Turkmenistan, which showed interest in the work of the organization.
The Turkmenistan’s side included the representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection, Ministry of Finance and Economy, Ministry of Trade and Foreign Economic Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Health and Medical Industry, State of Service “Turkmenstandartlary”, the Union of Manufacturers and Entrepreneurs. The discussion involved the membership procedures, the benefits, rights and obligations of the members, the amount of mandatory contributions, and organization’s strategic framework. The IOFS team also briefed the participants on the Resolutions of CFM and CAM that call the OIC member states for entering IOFS and collaborating with it within its area of activity. The Turkmen government, academic circles, private companies and chambers of commerce were invited to take part in the IOFS conferences and their organisation.
Agriculture in Turkmenistan is an essential part of the economy, occupying 12.7 % of GDP. The list of widely cultivated cultures include cotton, rice, wheat, beetroot, vegetables, gourds, fruit and berries. Turkmenistan’s main export partners within the OIC region are Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, and Turkey.
In June 2015, FAO awarded Turkmenistan for its achievements in the area of food security. On December 9, 2017, the government established a State Commission for Food Security to monitor the state of food security, stimulate food production, regulate legal, financial and economic aspects. Notably, Turkmenistan was elected as a member of the Executive Board of FAO for 2020-2022.