Interested in Business Opportunities in Turkmenistan?  The U.S. Embassy in Ashgabat will be Visiting Atyrau Oil & Gas 2008.  This is Your Chance to Talk with the Experts on the Ground.

Though Kazakhstan is the most well-known country developing its hydrocarbon resources in Central Asia, many firms are now turning their attention to the growing potential for similar development in neighboring Turkmenistan.  President Berdimuhamedov, elected in 2007, has promised to open up the country and improve the investment climate, and even though market reforms in Turkmenistan have been proceeding slowly, evidence over the past year indicates he is intent on keeping his word.

The second largest producer of natural gas in the former Soviet sphere, Turkmenistan’s production in 2007 amounted to more than 72 billion cubic meters of gas.  Additionally, official petroleum estimates put the country’s resource base at approximately 45 billion tons of oil equivalent, including 18 billion in the Caspian.  In 2007, production totaled about 10 million tons of oil.  Currently, the petroleum sector is the country’s largest and fastest growing industry, and there are an increasing number of opportunities for oil and gas service providers and related service companies, such as freight forwarders and logistics firms.

 Turkmen government officials have made clear that they want to maximize the value of the country’s oil and gas, and have been investing more substantially in petroleum treatment and processing facilities.  It has several LPG plants and plans to build more.  With the development of new fields, and the rehabilitation of old ones, there is a need for new pipeline systems and related infrastructure, such as compressor stations.  Many lucrative prospects have opened up for engineering and construction companies as the country works to fulfill ambitious plans for new transportation infrastructure and social development projects.  There is also a growing need for various telecommunications services and equipment, including mobile communications, transportation communications, and the Internet.

Many U.S. firms active in Kazakhstan are already exploring market potential in Turkmenistan with fact-finding trips to Ashgabat.  This April, the U.S. Embassy in Ashgabat and the U.S. Commercial Service in Almaty are bringing the experts to you.  Ashgabat-based Energy Officer Jennifer Lopresto will be visiting the Atyrau Oil & Gas show and will be available from April 9-11, 2008, for one-on-one counseling sessions.  Learn what opportunities Turkmenistan may hold for your firm or just get the lay of the land.

To schedule an appointment, please contact Azhar Kadrzhanova.  See also the Department of State’s 2008 Country Commercial Guide for Turkmenistan.