UNCLAS ASHGABAT 001600

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EIND ECON PGOV TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN ANNOUNCES INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITIONS
AND TRADE SHOWS FOR 2009

REF: ASHGABAT 959


1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.


2. (U) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan sent
to diplomatic missions a list of international exhibitions,
conferences, and fairs for 2009 on December 5, 2008:

-- Industrialists and Entrepreneurs Exhibition and Business
Forum, 17-18 March 2009

-- Oil and Gas Processing, Oil/Gas Chemistry, and the
Chemical Industry Exhibition and Scientific Conference, 15-17
April 2009

-- Tourism and Sport Exhibition, 28-30 April 2009

-- IIX Ashgabat City Forum, 13-15 May 2009

-- Turkmen Carpet Exhibition, 31 May - 1 June 2009

-- Textile Products Exhibition and Economic Forum, 7-9 June,
2009

-- Artists, Jewelers, Applied Technique Artists, and Folk
Music Exhibition, 26-28 June 2009

-- Turkmen Construction 2009, 20-22 August 2009

-- Science and Education Exhibition and Conference, 9-11
September 2009

-- III Telecommunications, Telemetry, Information
Technologies and Broadcasting Equipment Exhibition and
Conference, 17-19 September 2009

-- IV International Book Fair, 28-30 September 2009

-- Fish Industry Exhibition and Protection and Use of Caspian
Sea Resources Conference, 8-10 October 2009

-- Economic Achievements of Turkmenistan Exhibition, 17-19
October 2009

-- Health Industry Exhibition and Conference, 2-4 November
2009

-- Turkmenistan International Oil and Gas Conference and
Exhibition, 17-19 November 2009

-- Forum for Agricultural Production in the Commonwealth of
Independent States (CIS) and Exhibition on the
Agro-Industrial Complex, Agricultural Equipment, and Advanced
Technologies, November 2009

-- Power Industry Exhibition and Conference, 7-9 December 2009


3. (SBU) COMMENT: Attending trade shows can be useful as a
means to meet people, as well as a way to gain introductions
to government officials whose approval of business ventures
is so very important in Turkmenistan. Turkmenistan's Chamber
of Commerce actively arranges visas for those wishing to
attend shows (reftel). However, this service is not
inexpensive and appears to be more of a money-making scheme
than a stimulant for Turkmenistan's small and medium-sized
enterprise development. Since businessmen may have few other
opportunities to make necessary connections, they may
nevertheless find that this is the best way to begin a
business relationship in Turkmenistan. END COMMENT.
MILES