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Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow was elected the new president on 11 February 2007. He repealed some of Niyazov's most idiosyncratic policies, including banning opera and the circus for being "insufficiently Turkmen". In education, Berdimuhamedow's government had increased basic education to ten years from nine years, and higher education had been extended from four years to five. He has also increased contacts with the West, which is eager for access to the country's natural gas riches.
Political System
The government has three branches: Executive — President and the Council of Ministers, Legislative — Mejlis (Parliament), and Judicial — Supreme Court. The legal system is based on the civil law system.
The politics of Turkmenistan take place in the framework of a presidential republic, with the President both head of state and head of government. Under Niyazov, Turkmenistan had a single-party system; however, in September 2008, the People's Council unanimously passed a resolution adopting a new Constitution. The latter resulted in the abolition of the Council and a significant increase in the size of Parliament in December 2008. The new Constitution also permits the formation of multiple political parties.
Memberships
Turkmenistan's declaration of "permanent neutrality" was formally recognized by the United Nations in 1995. Former President Niyazov stated that the neutrality would prevent Turkmenistan from participating in multi-national defense organizations, but allows military assistance.
Turkmenistan is a member of the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the Economic Cooperation Organization, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Islamic Development Bank, the Commonwealth of Independent States, Asian Development Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the Food and Agriculture Organization.
Basic Facts
Capital City Ashgabat
Population 5 million
Total Area 440 km² (169.9 sq miles)
Languages Turkmen Language, Russian, Uzbek
Religion 89% Muslim, and 9% Eastern Orthodox
Political System Presidential system, Republic
Current President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow
Currency Turkmenistan manat
Health
In the post-Soviet era, reduced funding has put the health system in poor condition. In rural Turkmenistan communities face huge health challenges, ranging from clean water shortages and drug abuse to a lack of first aid skills or knowledge about diseases and maternal health. Poor diet, polluted drinking water, and industrial wastes and pesticides cause or exacerbate many medical problems, which are especially acute in the northeastern areas of the country near the Amu Darya and Aral Sea.
Health Indicators 2012
Under 5 mortality rate (per 1000) 56
Life expectancy at birth (years) 65.2
Expenditure on Health ( % of GDP)(2010) 1.5
Number of Hospitals beds (Per 1000) 4
Turkmen85%
Uzbeks5%
Russians4%
Kazakhs, Tatars, Other6%
Ethnicity in Turkmenistan
Number of Physicians (Per 1000) 2.44
People living with HIV (2009) 200
Number of HIV Deaths (2009) 100
Education
In the Soviet era, Turkmenistan’s population was considered to be well educated. Since independence a serious deterioration of the education system has depleted the overall skill level of the working population. The government has limited curricula by eliminating a wide variety of studies that are considered dangerous or useless. Funding has not matched the growing population, teacher salaries have been reduced, and the infrastructure is in poor condition. The dismissal of many ethnic Russian teachers also has damaged the system.
Education is free of charge, although introduction of fees is being considered by selected institutions. Formal schooling begins with kindergarten and primary school. School attendance is compulsory through the eighth grade. At this point, students are tested and directed into technical, continuing, and discontinuing tracks. Some students graduate to the workforce after completing the tenth grade, while others leave in the ninth grade to enter a trade or technical school.
Education Indicators 2012
Public Expenditure on Education (% of GDP) 4.3
Expected Years of Schooling 12.6
Adult Literacy Rate (% aged 15 and above) 99.6
Number of Teachers (000) 66
Number of Schools 1800
Number of Students (000) 831
Number of Universities 11
Economy
Although Turkmenistan's economic situation has deteriorated somewhat since 1990, the overall standard of living has not dropped as dramatically as it has in other former Soviet republics. Economic reforms have been modest, and the majority of businesses remain state-owned. Thanks to government subsidies, basic food products continue to be relatively affordable despite inflation. One of the most important modifications in economic policy took effect in early 1993 when President Niyazov decreed that natural gas, water, and electricity would be supplied virtually free of charge to all homes in Turkmenistan for an indefinite period. Gasoline and other fuels also remain cheap, relative to neighboring republics. Such economic stability has been
possible because Turkmenistan has a comparatively small population and it is rich in important resources such as natural gas and oil.
Business Environment
Since independence, the Turkmenistan government has sought to build a business environment that would attract foreign investment as well as facilitate the growth and privatization of its own businesses. Since 1992, Turkmenistan has developed several joint-ventures with international companies involved in the oil and gas industry, transportation, and agriculture. The government continues to look for interested parties who could build business relations with Turkmenistan in other industries such as agriculture, infrastructure, communication, food processing and packaging and many others.
Turkmenistan’s economic freedom score is 43.8, making its economy the 168th freest in the 2012 Index. Its score is 0.2 points higher than last year, reflecting improved fiscal and monetary freedom.
GDP
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GDP(Billion $)
GDP Per Capita(Hundred $)
GDP Growth(%)
Agriculture48%
Industry14%
Services38%
GDP by Sector
Natural Resources
The country possesses the world's fourth-largest reserves of natural gas and substantial oil resources. Turkmenistan has taken a cautious approach to economic reform, hoping to use gas and cotton sales to sustain its economy. As of May 2011, the South Yoloten gas field has the second-largest volume of gas in the world, after the South Pars field in the Persian Gulf. Reserves at South Yoloten are estimated at around 21 trillion cubic meters. Estimated reserves of Oil in Turkmenistan are around 700 million tons (12 billion barrels).
Half of the country's irrigated land is planted with cotton, making the country the world's ninth-largest cotton producer. During 2011 season, Turkmenistan produced around 1.1 million tons of raw cotton.
Imports
Main import commodities of Turkmenistan include machinery and equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs. The total value of imports in 2012 was $10.19 billion.
Exports
Between 1998 and 2002, Turkmenistan suffered from the continued lack of adequate export routes for natural gas and from obligations on extensive short-term external debt. At the same time, however, the value of total exports has risen sharply because of increases in international oil and gas prices. Turkmenistan is a net exporter of electrical power to Central Asian republics and southern neighbors. The country traditionally exports raw cotton to Russia, Iran, South
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No available data.
Turkmenistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Name Turkmenistan Chmaber of Commerce and Industry
Chairman Mr. Balval Taganov
Address 17, B. Karryev Street, Ashgabat 744000
Telephone (+993 12) 94‐23‐52/993‐12‐354717
Fax 993‐12‐35‐13‐52
E‐mail [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Website www.cci.gov.tm
Turkmenistan Banks
Turkmenistan Banks
Central Bank of Turkmenistan
Telephone (+99 312) 38 10 03
Fax (+99 312) 35 50 86
Email [email protected]
State Bank of Foreign Economic Activities
Telephone 350120 / 350252
Fax 397982 / 510470
Email NA
Other Banks
Dayhanbank
HalkBank SCB
Garagum IJSB
Prezidentbank
Rysgal JSCB
Senagat JSCB
The State Bank for Foreign Economic Affairs of Turkmenistan
The State Development Bank of Turkmenistan
Turkmenbashybank
Turkmenistanbank
Turkmen‐Turkish Bank JSCB
Turkmenistan Insurance Company
Name Telephone Fax E‐mail Website
The State Insurance Organization of Turkmenistan
+99312 221955, 221956, 221976
+99312 221917
[email protected] www.insurance.gov.tm
Turkmenistan Economic Ministries
Ministry of Finance
Minister Dowletgeldi SADYKOW
Telephone (993 12) 51‐05‐63
Fax (993 12) 51‐08‐41
Website www.minfin.gov.tm
E‐mail [email protected]
Ministry of Oil and Gas Industry and Mineral Resources
Minister Muhammetnur HALYLOW
Telephone (+99 312) 40 30 01
Fax (+99 312) 40 30 82
Website www.oilgas.gov.tm
E‐mail [email protected]
Ministry of Trade and Foreign Economic relations
Minister Batyr ABAYEW
Telephone (+99 312) 35 10 4
Fax (+99 312) 39 51 08
Website NA
E‐mail [email protected]