The Agro-Pak Turkmenistan–2023 International Exhibition of Modern Food Production Technologies was held at the Expo Centre of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan.

The main aims of large-scale reforms taking place in the agricultural sector of Turkmenistan’s economy are to form new economic relations in rural areas, to create a competitive environment for economic entities, to efficiently use land and water resources, to protect the environment, to promote agricultural science and selective breeding, to widely introduce innovations, advanced management and marketing methods and to solve social issues.

Effective steps are being taken to diversify agriculture. Along with grain and cotton growing, Turkmenistan is intensively developing livestock and poultry farming, vegetable growing, horticulture, viticulture, melon growing, beekeeping and other types of agricultural business.

With the aim of achieving food security, the country is conducting activities within the framework of the National Climate Change Strategy and the National Afforestation Programme. Comprehensive measures are being implemented to drive agricultural adaptation to climate change and to optimise the placement of agricultural production to meet the demand for agricultural products. Supporting international efforts in this area, Turkmenistan invariably takes a proactive approach to developing long-term balanced solutions to these issues.

Those present listened with great attention to the Welcome Address of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov to the participants of the International Exhibition, in which he emphasised that “in the period of the Revival of the New Era of the Powerful State, the state provides comprehensive support to domestic agricultural and food producers, creating favourable conditions for their fruitful work.”

These measures are aimed at improving the efficiency of agriculture and the food industry, saturating the domestic market with food products and consistently increasing food exports. Ensuring an abundance of high-quality food products contributed to laying the crucial foundations of the social system, health and physical activity, a high standard of living of citizens, the President of Turkmenistan noted in his Address.

The venue for the Exhibition showcases not only the achievements of Turkmenistan in the sphere of the agroindustrial complex, but also the huge potential of businesses operating in this sector. About 90 domestic and foreign companies and private entrepreneurs presented their products at the Exhibition.

Along with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Trade and Foreign Economic Relations, the participants of the International Exhibition from Azerbaijan, Iran, Germany, Moldova, Russia, the Netherlands, Türkiye and Uzbekistan set up their stands, putting an emphasis on innovative technologies and know-how.

The Turkish companies presented a variety of packaging machines, feed mixers, seeding machines, harvesting and tillage machines, vegetable oil processing units and drying systems. The Russian entrepreneurs presented modern structures used to build greenhouses and livestock farms and measures taken to protect the environment.

The pavilions of foreign businesses that produce drip irrigation systems, mineral fertilisers for plant protection, seeds, seed packages and labels were of particular interest.

A separate section of the Exhibition featured confectionery products, spices and food additives from the foreign manufacturers, including Baraka, Shirin Asal, Dolkem and Beyza Gida, among others.

Increasing the role of the non-state sector in the economy is a key aspect of the Socioeconomic Development Programme of Turkmenistan.

It should be noted that maintaining food security and abundance of goods in the country are important vectors of the economic policy of our state, which is consistently increasing fruitful interaction with the United Nations and its specialised agencies, including the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

In 2015, Turkmenistan was awarded a special FAO award for achievements in the field of food security as one of the Third Millennium Development Goals.

Contributing to the ongoing agricultural reform, private producers use innovative management methods and increase production through adopting advanced technologies, developing new lands, sowing additional crops in these lands and building greenhouse farms that make it possible to grow vegetables all-year-round in closed ground, which makes it possible to saturate the domestic market and to increase export supplies.

Today, entrepreneurs produce a wide range of baby food, fruit and vegetable concentrates, juices, mayonnaise, ice cream, tinned products belonging to the premium product segment, fish delicacies, yoghurts, sausages, confectionery and snacks.

Moreover, the first food safety and control laboratory centre in Turkmenistan, established on the initiative of the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs by the Hil Standart Economic Society, stands guard over the safety of food products. The competence of this centre in food product and quality testing is confirmed by international accreditation to the ISO/IEC 17025:2017.

Private companies, helping to improve the competitiveness of the agroindustrial sector, meet the consumer demand for a variety of eco-friendly food and vitamin products.

The exhibitors include agricultural enterprises, modern greenhouse farms, poultry and livestock farming complexes, vegetable, melon and fruit processing plants.

Lebiz Plastic, Edidogan Nur, Garagum and Toprak that produce product packaging presented their products at the Exhibition. They rely on international practices and advanced technologies to improve their activities.

The Exhibition featured a rich range of drinks and pure drinking water from the Arçalyk and Sada Suw enterprises and the Ýakymly Kümüs Suwy and Mahmal Zip Economic Societies, natural vegetable and fruit juices and nectars. The Parahat Individual Enterprise presented the popular Joş and Eçil juices, iced tea, sausages, baby food (fruit and vegetable purees), shelf-stable dairy products, several kinds of ketchup and tomato paste made from natural local raw materials.

The well-known dairy product manufacturer – Sahabatly – had a place of honour at the Exhibition. Şerbet Market and Halk Market also organised their stands.

International ISO and HACCP certification testifies to the high quality of food products made by domestic enterprises.

The pavilions with the favourite delicacy of children and adults – ice cream of the Erteki brand attract numerous visitors. There are scatterings of confectionery products at the stands of Hasar, Täze Aý, Mekan, Kilwan, Bars and Altyn Şöhle. Popular varieties of bread and bakery products in original festive decorations are presented at the Exhibition.

The pavilions featured a rich variety of fruit, vegetables, gourds and melons, grown on farmlands, leased by the state to the UIET, and in greenhouses, the number of which is growing with every passing year.

It should be noted that this year’s Exhibition is an incentive to gain new achievements and to take actions to set up the development of the country, to enhance its economic strength and to improve the wellbeing of our society.