SABIT COORDINATOR BUILDS RELATIONSHIPS WITH

UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000753 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB COMMERCE FOR ROLLINS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL EAGR EAID ECON EFIN EIND EPET SOCI TX SUBJECT: SABIT COORDINATOR BUILDS RELATIONSHIPS WITH TURKMEN MINISTRIES REF: ASHGABAT 139 ¶1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. ¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY: The coordinator of the Central Asia office of the U.S. Department of Commerce Special American Business Internship Training (SABIT) program met with Turkmen government officials to promote the program. She focused on building one-on-one relationships that would bridge the gap created by the overly bureaucratic system of informing the government about SABIT programs almost exclusively via diplomatic note. The coordinator's request to government officials for e-mail addresses -- with the explanation that she would e-mail the application forms while concurrently sending the forms via diplomatic note to the ministries -- was met with general enthusiasm. The atmosphere of cooperation and exchange that the coordinator created set the stage for many new insights about how to present study tour opportunities and the frequent difficulty finding any Turkmen participants for programs. In addition, several interlocutors mentioned the upcoming visit of Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov to Washington, an indication that they see this official trip as a signal to increase engagement with the United States. END SUMMARY. ¶3. (SBU) During a visit to Ashgabat on June 9-12, SABIT Coordinator for Central Banat Ashkenova promoted the program with government officials, focusing on building one-on-one relationships that would bridge the gap created by the Turkmen government's overly bureaucratic system of informing the government of programs via diplomatic note. As a result of this cumbersome and restrictive process, at times no Turkmen have attended SABIT sessions, even in key sectors such as oil and gas. MINISTRY OF ECONOMY AND DEVELOPMENT ¶4. (SBU) Deputy Head of the Ministry of Economy and Development, Foreign Economic Affairs Department Atajan Atayev and his colleagues Deputy Head of Welfare and Labor Relations Selbi Sysoyeva and Head Specialist of the Social Development Department Jennet Kepbanova showed great interest in SABIT, especially in sessions that would assist in growing Turkmenistan's small and medium enterprise sector, and agreed that Ashkenova could e-mail applications directly to the Ministry. They suggested that Post indicate on the �A;diplomatic note which Turkmen ministries and agencies should receive the SABIT calendar, and that Post also mention on the diplomatic note that Post is concurrently sending the calendar directly to these particular ministries and agencies. They were also agreed that interaction between participants from all over the former Soviet Union was beneficial and were impressed with program content, which comprises hands-on experience and content, not only lectures. They said that they would start on the application process as soon as they received the applications, and said that they would also think about sessions to suggest for future years. These officials suggested that Ashkenova meet with the Union of Entrepreneurs and Industrialists, which was already on the meeting schedule. MINISTRY OF OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY AND MINERAL RESOURCES ¶5. (SBU) The Minister of Oil and Gas Industry and Mineral Resources Annaguly Deryaev met with Ashkenova because, as he explained, all of his appropriate subordinates were busy at the U.S. Department of Energy-sponsored "Pipeline Integrity and Management Workshop" that was taking place at that time. The Minister explained that various U.S. companies, such as ExxonMobil and Halliburton, had worked in Turkmenistan in the past, and others, such as Cudd Exploration and Baker Hughes, are currently active in the country. He stated that President Berdimuhamedov had instructed ministries to hold talks with U.S. companies. Regarding future SABIT sessions, Deryaev said the Ministry would begin preparing a list of participants as soon as the Cabinet of Ministers approves the SABIT calendar. The Head of International Relations suggested after the meeting that Post send a diplomatic note requesting topics of interest to the Ministry. The Head of the Human Resources Department Shagul Nepesova somewhat reluctantly agreed to receive the applications via an e-mail address indicated on her business card. MINISTRY OF CONSTRUCTION ¶6. (SBU) Director of the Ministry of Construction Department for Investment and Large Construction Projects Shamuhammet Amanov said that his Ministry would be interested in SABIT sessions on Construction Industry Standards. He added that his Ministry's priorities include modern construction materials, computer programs, developing industry-specific education institutions, seismology, safety and quality of construction methods and materials, and administration of licensing and permits. Amanov mentioned that it can be difficult for department heads -- generally the target participant for SABIT -- to arrange time away because of their workloads, and that this requires significant time in order to obtain approval from the Cabinet of Ministers. MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE ¶7. (SBU) Head of Financial-Economic Services at the Ministry of Agriculture Agageldy Chariyev and new Head of International Relations Hudayberdy Hajiyev were familiar with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Cochran Farmer-to-Farmer program and showed great interest in SABIT. They suggested that Post indicate on the diplomatic note which Deputy Chairmen should receive and approve the calendar. Hajiyev welcomed Ashkenova's suggestion of e-mailing the calendar and application directly to him. Hajiyev said that he visited the U.S. and Mexico when he taught at the Agriculture University. (NOTE: The locally-engaged Agriculture Specialist believes that Hajiyev is an alumnus of a World Bank program. END NOTE.) MINISTRY OF HEALTHCARE AND MEDICAL INDUSTRY ¶8. (SBU) SABIT alumnus Begklich Ovezklychev arranged a meeting with Deputy Minister Nury Ananepesov, who recommended that Ashkenova send Ovezklychev a copy of the calendar and application directly, concurrent with notification via diplomatic note. He said that he was sorry that no one from his Ministry took part in the recent hospital administration session, and that "We really want to participate. This is exactly what we need. Thank you for wanting to help us and cooperate with us, it's a very good thing." FOOD INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION ¶9. (SBU) Food Industry Association Deputy Chairman Oraz Rejepov mentioned to Ashkenova that he attended a training program in Israel. His experience with that program seemed to positively affect his reaction to SABIT. Rejepov said that the Association is no longer under the Ministry of Agriculture and often information about training programs does not reach the Association, if someone in the chain decided that these programs are not relevant to the Association. Head of the Association's Foreign Relations Department Ilmurad Hojakuliyev agreed that Ashkenova could send him the new SABIT calendar directly when it is released. STATE COMMODITY AND RAW MATERIALS EXCHANGE ¶10. (SBU) Five young and well-educated staff members of the State Commodity and Raw Materials Exchange, led by the Exchange's Deputy Chairman Tahir Berdimuradov, told Ashkenova that their clients would be appropriate candidates for the SABIT sessions. Berdimuradov suggested that SABIT or another U.S. Government entity organize a special training program for the Exchange to visit the New York Stock Exchange and other financial institutions. Some of these staff members also attended the reception for SABIT alumni on June 11 at Ashkenova's invitation. CHAMBER OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY ¶11. (SBU) Head of the Foreign Relations Department of the Chamber of Trade and Industry Elmira Rahmanova said that the Chamber's status as a state body -- although 60 percent of the membership is comprised of private companies -- limits the staff's ability to travel abroad and to implement new concepts in their work. Rahmanova said that she already received e-mails from Ashkenova about SABIT programs and promised to share them with private sector clients. UNION OF ENTREPRENEURS AND INDUSTRIALISTS ¶12. (SBU) Two very enthusiastic officials who accompanied Deputy Chairman of the Union of Entrepreneurs and Industrialists Hojamyrat Toyliyev at his meeting with Ashkenova were so enthusiastic that they didn't let her finish her introduction to the program before they began to ask questions. Toyliyev added that "Our entrepreneurs really need these programs." The two junior officials explained at the SABIT alumni reception on June 11 that their children have left for Russia and Belarus for higher education, and that developing educational programs in Turkmenistan is a priority so that the country does not loose its population. She enthusiastically described the successful cooperation between the Union and Post that resulted in a business education program supported by PAS funds (reftel),and a separate program staffed by Peace Corps volunteers. MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS ¶13. (SBU) Head of the Americas Desk at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Serdar Bashimov said that education is one of Turkmenistan's main priorities, and SABIT is a part of this: "We value the program and what it brings." Bashimov did not have concrete suggestions on increasing Turkmen participation in the program but admitted that Turkmenistan had bureaucratic challenges, saying that "we don't always have the wherewithal...to obtain approvals within the necessary time period. Some ministers don't want their employees to miss work time." He suggested that it would be helpful if Ashkenova could inform the Ministry of the approximate number of participants for each session in advance. When Ashkenova explained that applicant quality is more important than quantity and that the program is competitive, he replied that Turkmen ministers may have trouble understanding this concept but that the Ministry would try to help them understand it. Bashimov said that Ashkenova was welcome to contact him directly at any time to inquire about the status of applications. ¶14. (SBU) COMMENT: Ashkenova brought a fresh perspective to Turkmenistan. The atmosphere of cooperation and interchange that she created set the stage for many new insights about presenting study tour opportunities and why Post often has difficulty finding Turkmen participants for programs. However, the simple change of one individual within a ministry can significantly affect our programs' prospects: it appears that Post's current programs with the Ministry of Agriculture will proceed with even more momentum with the addition of Hajiyev who has been to the U.S. and is very supportive of U.S. programs. Several interlocutors mentioned the upcoming visit of Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov to Washington, planned for June 22-24, an indication that they see this official trip as a signal to increase engagement with the U.S. END COMMENT. CURRAN