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
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