Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASHGABAT1056
2009-08-21 08:34:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN STILL FLOUNDERING ON STURGEON FARM
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UNCLAS ASHGABAT 001056
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN; EEB
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIS ECON ETRD PGOV EINV PBTS SENV TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN STILL FLOUNDERING ON STURGEON FARM
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 001056
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN; EEB
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIS ECON ETRD PGOV EINV PBTS SENV TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN STILL FLOUNDERING ON STURGEON FARM
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) SUMMARY: The Turkmen Government is again casting about for
a private company to build a sturgeon farm that would produce
sturgeon and ultimately yield black caviar. The State Fisheries
Committee announced a tender to this effect in the local media on
July 23; the tender will close on August 23. This tender marks the
third time the GOTX has attempted to reel in companies. The
geographical features on Turkmenistan's Caspian coast and the
Committee's poor efforts to advertise the tender are major obstacles
to netting strong bids. END SUMMARY
3. (SBU) Turkmenistan is obligated to contribute to increased
numbers of sturgeon in the Caspian. Moreover, Turkmenistan's quota
of sturgeon it can catch depends on this contribution. Each year,
the Caspian littoral states set the catch quotas for each country
based on each country's contribution to the natural and artificial
reproduction of sturgeon in the Caspian. According to a Turkmen
Government official, Turkmenistan has the lowest quota among the
littoral states because it does not contribute to sturgeon
reproduction either naturally or artificially. At the same time,
Turkmenistan is the only country among the littoral states that does
not possess the natural conditions necessary for sturgeon to spawn.
Sturgeon lay eggs in fresh water and feed in salty water, but
Turkmenistan's sole river flowing into the Caspian, the Etrek, is
very shallow, and often dries up in the summer, making it unsuitable
for egg laying.
4. (SBU) The Turkmen Government is determined to create facilities
for the production of sturgeon, so that Turkmenistan's catch quota
can be increased. In addition to the much-awaited quota increase,
such facilities will also create possibilities for Turkmenistan to
produce and export black caviar, which could become a reliable
source of hard-currency income for the State Fisheries Committee.
Reportedly, the first tender announcement for a sturgeon farm did
not attract any strong bidders. The second tendering process
resulted in a contract awarded to a Turkish company, which was later
annulled because the company had not managed to deliver on some
contractual obligations.
5. (SBU) According to a Turkmen Government official, the absence of
adequate volumes of fresh water on the Turkmen coast of the Caspian
Sea is the main hurdle that companies face when formulating their
proposals. As a result, the State Fisheries Committee is likely to
award the contract to a company that includes in its business
proposal a plan for increasing volumes of fresh water necessary for
spawning.
6. (SBU) COMMENT: The on-going sturgeon tender presents a rare
opportunity for highly qualified companies to win a Turkmen tender
on the merits of their expertise rather than through personal
contacts with government officials. Despite two unsuccessful
tenders in the past, the State Fisheries Committee has not improved
its tender announcement policy and published the latest announcement
in only one local newspaper and on a government-owned website.
Given this lack luster approach to attracting bidders, it is
uncertain whether the Committee will be able to find strong
candidates the third time around. END COMMENT.
MILES
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN; EEB
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIS ECON ETRD PGOV EINV PBTS SENV TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN STILL FLOUNDERING ON STURGEON FARM
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) SUMMARY: The Turkmen Government is again casting about for
a private company to build a sturgeon farm that would produce
sturgeon and ultimately yield black caviar. The State Fisheries
Committee announced a tender to this effect in the local media on
July 23; the tender will close on August 23. This tender marks the
third time the GOTX has attempted to reel in companies. The
geographical features on Turkmenistan's Caspian coast and the
Committee's poor efforts to advertise the tender are major obstacles
to netting strong bids. END SUMMARY
3. (SBU) Turkmenistan is obligated to contribute to increased
numbers of sturgeon in the Caspian. Moreover, Turkmenistan's quota
of sturgeon it can catch depends on this contribution. Each year,
the Caspian littoral states set the catch quotas for each country
based on each country's contribution to the natural and artificial
reproduction of sturgeon in the Caspian. According to a Turkmen
Government official, Turkmenistan has the lowest quota among the
littoral states because it does not contribute to sturgeon
reproduction either naturally or artificially. At the same time,
Turkmenistan is the only country among the littoral states that does
not possess the natural conditions necessary for sturgeon to spawn.
Sturgeon lay eggs in fresh water and feed in salty water, but
Turkmenistan's sole river flowing into the Caspian, the Etrek, is
very shallow, and often dries up in the summer, making it unsuitable
for egg laying.
4. (SBU) The Turkmen Government is determined to create facilities
for the production of sturgeon, so that Turkmenistan's catch quota
can be increased. In addition to the much-awaited quota increase,
such facilities will also create possibilities for Turkmenistan to
produce and export black caviar, which could become a reliable
source of hard-currency income for the State Fisheries Committee.
Reportedly, the first tender announcement for a sturgeon farm did
not attract any strong bidders. The second tendering process
resulted in a contract awarded to a Turkish company, which was later
annulled because the company had not managed to deliver on some
contractual obligations.
5. (SBU) According to a Turkmen Government official, the absence of
adequate volumes of fresh water on the Turkmen coast of the Caspian
Sea is the main hurdle that companies face when formulating their
proposals. As a result, the State Fisheries Committee is likely to
award the contract to a company that includes in its business
proposal a plan for increasing volumes of fresh water necessary for
spawning.
6. (SBU) COMMENT: The on-going sturgeon tender presents a rare
opportunity for highly qualified companies to win a Turkmen tender
on the merits of their expertise rather than through personal
contacts with government officials. Despite two unsuccessful
tenders in the past, the State Fisheries Committee has not improved
its tender announcement policy and published the latest announcement
in only one local newspaper and on a government-owned website.
Given this lack luster approach to attracting bidders, it is
uncertain whether the Committee will be able to find strong
candidates the third time around. END COMMENT.
MILES