The new Shipbuilding and repairing yard «Balkan», which began construction of ships for the first time in Turkmenistan this year, together with partners plans to launch the first bulk carrier in 14 months of production and the second - three months later.

Such shipbuilding periods are the most optimal in the region, since usually the full commissioning of a sea vessel takes at least three years. This was stated by Deputy of  General Director of the Agency for Transport and Communications under the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan Batyr Annaev at the session “«Быстрые победы, большое влияние – краткосрочные инвестиционные возможности для Транскаспийского транспортного сообщения» during the Global Gateway investor forum in Brussels.

Turkmenistan also plans to begin building RO-RO ferries, despite the fact that the capacity of the national shipyard is designed to build 4 ships and repair 20 ships per year. According to preliminary calculations, to establish additional container transportation of 5 million tons per year between the ports of Turkmenbashi and Baku, the production of at least 20 more dry cargo ships will be required. And for Turkmen shipbuilding to reach its full capacity, investments will play a key role.

At the same time, at the parallel Global Gateway session «Пересечение Каспийского моря: превращение узкого места в ключевое соединение» spoke, Seyitguly Bayseidov, Deputy Chairman of the Agency «Turkmendenizderyayollary» and Acting Director of the Turkmenbashi International Sea Port.

He emphasized that the Turkmenbashi International Seaport is located at the crossroads of Europe-Asia cargo routes and provides vital connectivity for landlocked Central Asian countries, offering them an economically viable route for trade.

Noting that the government of Turkmenistan invested US$1.5 billion in the construction of the new port, Bayseidov pointed to its capacity of 17 million tons of various types of cargo and commitment to the principles of sustainable development: in 2023, the port received a Green Port certificate from SLC ECO with the support OSCE.