Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASHGABAT385
2008-03-27 11:59:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: WORLD BANK DISCUSSES COOPERATION
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UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000385
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB
TREASURY FOR BAKER/LANIER
USAID/W FOR EE/AA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV EAID ECON EFIN TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: WORLD BANK DISCUSSES COOPERATION
AND COORDINATION IN ECONOMIC PROGRAMS AMONG DONORS
REF: A. 07 ASHGABAT 1266
B. ASHGABAT 0369
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000385
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB
TREASURY FOR BAKER/LANIER
USAID/W FOR EE/AA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV EAID ECON EFIN TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: WORLD BANK DISCUSSES COOPERATION
AND COORDINATION IN ECONOMIC PROGRAMS AMONG DONORS
REF: A. 07 ASHGABAT 1266
B. ASHGABAT 0369
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) SUMMARY: During a recent conversation with the
local World Bank representative in Ashgabat, he said the
World Bank's Payment Systems Unit wants to coordinate better
with other donors on some technical assistance projects in
Turkmenistan. He also mentioned two economy and
finance-oriented visits that will occur in April, indicating
further engagement here. END SUMMARY.
WORLD BANK'S PAYMENT SYSTEMS UNIT WANTS TO PARTNER WITH U.S.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
3. (SBU) On March 24, World Bank Liaison Office in
Turkmenistan Operations Officer Serdar Jepbarov said that the
World Bank's Payment Systems Unit is looking for partners on
technical assistance projects in Turkmenistan, and would be
interested in discussing this prospect with the Department of
the Treasury.
IMF ARTICLE 4 VISIT SCHEDULED FOR APRIL
4. (SBU) Jepbarov also said that an International Monetary
Fund (IMF) team is coming to Turkmenistan in mid-April for
two weeks to work on the Article 4 report (Ref. A). The
Article 4 process is complex and will involve every ministry
and agency that touches on economy and finance. Therefore,
Jepbarov recommended that no economic/finance oriented
delegations come to Turkmenistan at this time because the
Government of Turkmenistan's resources in these areas will be
focused on assisting the IMF with this report.
IFC IS COMING IN APRIL, TOO
5. (SBU) An International Finance Corporation (IFC)
delegation is coming at the end of April to discuss how to
improve the business environment with the National Statistics
Institute. Jepbarov said that the National Statistics
Institute requested this visit after seeing IFC reports on
similar topics for other Central Asian countries. Jepbarov
said that this meant that "They (Government of Turkmenistan
officials) liked what they saw." The IFC team will survey
several thousand small and medium enterprise owners and will
discuss the Law on Foreign Investment (Ref B) with the
Ministry of Economy and Development.
6. (SBU) COMMENT: The opportunity to partner with the World
Bank on technical assistance projects may offer U.S. agencies
a means to roll out out some technical assistance projects in
Turkmenistan that would have been difficult without a partner
from the international financial institution community. If
colleagues from the Department of the Treasury are interested
in making contact, post will furnish contact names and
coordinates. This discussion also underscores the importance
of coordinating our assistance efforts -- including visits --
in the international community. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB
TREASURY FOR BAKER/LANIER
USAID/W FOR EE/AA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV EAID ECON EFIN TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: WORLD BANK DISCUSSES COOPERATION
AND COORDINATION IN ECONOMIC PROGRAMS AMONG DONORS
REF: A. 07 ASHGABAT 1266
B. ASHGABAT 0369
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) SUMMARY: During a recent conversation with the
local World Bank representative in Ashgabat, he said the
World Bank's Payment Systems Unit wants to coordinate better
with other donors on some technical assistance projects in
Turkmenistan. He also mentioned two economy and
finance-oriented visits that will occur in April, indicating
further engagement here. END SUMMARY.
WORLD BANK'S PAYMENT SYSTEMS UNIT WANTS TO PARTNER WITH U.S.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
3. (SBU) On March 24, World Bank Liaison Office in
Turkmenistan Operations Officer Serdar Jepbarov said that the
World Bank's Payment Systems Unit is looking for partners on
technical assistance projects in Turkmenistan, and would be
interested in discussing this prospect with the Department of
the Treasury.
IMF ARTICLE 4 VISIT SCHEDULED FOR APRIL
4. (SBU) Jepbarov also said that an International Monetary
Fund (IMF) team is coming to Turkmenistan in mid-April for
two weeks to work on the Article 4 report (Ref. A). The
Article 4 process is complex and will involve every ministry
and agency that touches on economy and finance. Therefore,
Jepbarov recommended that no economic/finance oriented
delegations come to Turkmenistan at this time because the
Government of Turkmenistan's resources in these areas will be
focused on assisting the IMF with this report.
IFC IS COMING IN APRIL, TOO
5. (SBU) An International Finance Corporation (IFC)
delegation is coming at the end of April to discuss how to
improve the business environment with the National Statistics
Institute. Jepbarov said that the National Statistics
Institute requested this visit after seeing IFC reports on
similar topics for other Central Asian countries. Jepbarov
said that this meant that "They (Government of Turkmenistan
officials) liked what they saw." The IFC team will survey
several thousand small and medium enterprise owners and will
discuss the Law on Foreign Investment (Ref B) with the
Ministry of Economy and Development.
6. (SBU) COMMENT: The opportunity to partner with the World
Bank on technical assistance projects may offer U.S. agencies
a means to roll out out some technical assistance projects in
Turkmenistan that would have been difficult without a partner
from the international financial institution community. If
colleagues from the Department of the Treasury are interested
in making contact, post will furnish contact names and
coordinates. This discussion also underscores the importance
of coordinating our assistance efforts -- including visits --
in the international community. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND