The CIS states could join the energy, transport and communication projects initiated by Turkmenistan in the southern direction. This was stated by President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, speaking at a meeting of the Council of CIS Heads of State, which took place on October 14 in Astana.

We propose to consider the prospects for using the port infrastructure on the Caspian Sea in the interests of the CIS, including the capacity of the International Seaport of Turkmenbashi, as well as the growing merchant fleet of Turkmenistan, the President of Turkmenistan noted.

Serdar Berdimuhamedov recalled that in 2019, during the First Caspian Economic Forum in the city of Turkmenbashi, at the Second Caspian Economic Forum, held recently in Moscow, as well as at the Conference of Ministers of Transport of Landlocked Developing Countries, held under the auspices of the UN in Turkmenistan in August of this year, the conceptual issues of multilateral trade and economic cooperation in the Caspian were discussed.

Many states, primarily those neighboring the Commonwealth, are showing interest in participating in it. We believe that the Caspian direction should take its proper place in the long-term plans of the CIS, be considered as a zone of priority economic partnership, the President emphasized.

Serdar Berdimuhamedov also noted that Turkmenistan has initiated and is implementing energy, transport and communication projects in the southern direction of the Commonwealth - to Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan. There are plans to diversify them with access to the Indian Ocean, to the countries of the Persian Gulf, to the Middle East.

- I believe that the states of the Commonwealth could actively join in such projects, - the Turkmen leader said.

Noting that this is a very promising and profitable business, the head of Turkmenistan said: “Let's offer potential partners the launch of a multilateral mechanism for communication on these projects. I am convinced and I know that such a proposal will find a positive and interested response from them. I believe it is necessary to give relevant instructions and powers to the relevant CIS committees.”

Serdar Berdimuhamedov also suggested "thinking about organizing a multi-profile economic exhibition-fair of the CIS countries as a platform for establishing further substantive partnerships, boosting trade, restarting and cooperative ties in various industries."