Last updated in December 2009
Political and economic relations
Germany is one of Turkmenistan’s preferred partners – along with the Russian Federation, China, Turkey and the US. Economic and political relations between the two countries are friendly but there is still room for improvement. Germany is Turkmenistan’s second most important foreign trading partner within the European Union. German products are held in high regard, especially those from the technology and automotive sectors.
Trade between Germany and Turkmenistan
In 2008, bilateral trade between Germany and Turkmenistan was worth approximately EUR 230 million, an increase of 24 per cent compared with 2007. The figures in detail:
In 2008, German imports from Turkmenistan were worth EUR 48.4 million. For the period January to August 2009, imports totalled to EUR 31 million.
German exports to Turkmenistan amounted to EUR 181.9 million in 2008. For the period January to August 2009, exports were worth EUR 146 million.
In 2008, the total volume of trade amounted to EUR 230 million, compared with EUR 161 million in 2007, an increase of 42 per cent. For the period January to August 2009, total trade was worth EUR 177 million.
All figures are based on information provided by the Federal Statistical Office. In 2008, Turkmenistan ranked 101st among Germany’s export partners.
There are 104 registered projects involving German investment in Turkmenistan and over 50 German companies are active in there.
On 25 May 2009, the first meeting of the German-Turkmenian Intergovernmental Working Group on Business and Trade was held in Ashgabat.
The following bilateral agreements are in place:
air transport agreement of 19 February 2001
investment protection and promotion agreement of 19 February 2001
double taxation agreement of 24 November 1981 (continuing in force)
There is a German Business Delegate for Central Asia based in Almaty (Kazachstan).
In October 2008, Germany launched a bilateral further-training programme for managers (30 participants).
Cultural relations
Cultural relations between the two countries are fairly insignificant. An agreement on cultural relations, which was signed in 1997 and came into force on 19 June 2002, forms the basis of German-Turkmenian cultural cooperation.
Turkmenistan is served by the Goethe Institute in Tashkent/Uzbekistan. There is continuing strong demand for scholarships offered by the Goethe Institute (GI), the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and the Educational Exchange Service (PAD). 122 scholarships have been awarded since the DAAD programme was launched in Turkmenistan in 1995. Since 2007, the DAAD has had its own academic teacher working there again. In addition, a DAAD language assistant was seconded to Turkmenistan in summer 2008. In summer 2009, the language assistant post was turned into a second DAAD academic teaching position. Enhanced German instruction is offered at Middle School No. 27 in Ashgabad.
