PM to Turkmenistan, expected to sign several MoUs

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is undertaking his first official visit to Turkmenistan, a trip that aligns with the 30th anniversary of Petroliam Nasional Berhad's (Petronas) operations in the Central Asian nation. The visit, scheduled for today and tomorrow, is at the invitation of Turkmenistan President Serdar Berdimuhamedov.

Wisma Putra, Malaysia's foreign ministry, announced that Anwar will lead a Malaysian delegation for bilateral discussions following an official welcoming ceremony at the Presidential Palace. The leaders are expected to explore avenues for enhancing cooperation across a spectrum of fields. These include trade and investment, oil and gas, agriculture and commodities, energy, tourism, education, and digital connectivity, as well as science and technology.

Furthermore, Anwar and Berdimuhamedov are slated to exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest, with a particular focus on developments within ASEAN and the Central Asian region. The exchange of a Joint Statement and the witnessing of several key documents, including an Air Services Agreement between Malaysia and Turkmenistan, are anticipated.

Several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) are also expected to be finalized, covering areas such as diplomacy, transportation, science, and oil and gas. The Prime Minister is also scheduled to jointly inaugurate the Malaysia-Turkmenistan Forum with President Berdimuhamedov. In 2023, Turkmenistan stood as Malaysia's fourth-largest trading partner among Central Asian nations, with bilateral trade reaching RM75.80 million. Petronas has made significant investments in Turkmenistan, totaling RM52.73 billion since 1996.