Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASHGABAT496
2009-04-20 05:49:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:  

TURKMENISTAN: TOUGH TIMES FOR BOUYGUES

Tags:  PGOV EIND TX FR 
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P 200549Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2678
INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 5099
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2850
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2715
RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 3343
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 3477
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 000496 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/17/2019
TAGS: PGOV EIND TX FR
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: TOUGH TIMES FOR BOUYGUES

REF: ASHGABAT 0086

Classified By: Charge Richard Miles, reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 000496

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/17/2019
TAGS: PGOV EIND TX FR
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: TOUGH TIMES FOR BOUYGUES

REF: ASHGABAT 0086

Classified By: Charge Richard Miles, reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).


1. (C) Following a meeting with his boss two weeks ago, one
expatriate employee of French construction firm, Bouygues,
was unexpectedly sacked by his boss by e-mail. Several
expatriate employees at Bouygues (strictly protect
throughout) have told Economic Officer in the past week about
the "terrible ambiance" in the company, citing this firing of
a well-respected colleague as one reason. This person's
replacement arrived in country right after he left, which
means -- because of hiring and visa formalities -- that the
company identified the replacement at least two months ago.
Apparently, a new co-country manager has joined Bouygues
Turkmen Managing Director, Charlie Senter, who may or may not
be leaving the country -- no one is telling the staff, which
adds to concern that they may lose their jobs at this time of
high unemployment in France. In addition, one expat employee
said on April 16 that former Chief Executive Officer of
Bouygues Turkmen Aldo Carbonara was fired for embezzlement.


2. (C) COMMENT: EU-Tacis Advisor, Michael Wilson, said in a
conversation on April 17 that many Russian, French, and
Turkish companies operating locally are shedding employees
because their money isn't going as far as it used to because
of inflation, the redenominated manat and unified exchange
rate, which has forced them to get rid of dead weight. He
thinks that time caught up with Bouygues, for which the
current financial climate is especially difficult. The
company owes too much money and the company's risk is very
high in Turkmenistan, since it has one customer: the
Government of Turkmenistan. END COMMENT.
MILES