INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON DIGITAL ECONOMY AND INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES «TÜRKMENTEL-2020»

XIII International Conference on digital economy and innovative technologies in Turkmenistan «Türkmentel-2020», which was organized by Türkmenaragatnaşyk Agency and the Trade and Industrial Chamber according to the Resolution of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, has started its work in the capital yesterday.

Specialized forum, which is held on the threshold of celebration of the glorious date – the 25th anniversary of neutrality of the Motherland in the year under slogan “Turkmenistan - Home of Neutrality”, is aimed at strengthening and development of international cooperation in telecommunication sphere.

Due to the restriction on international travelling, the conference is held not only in traditional format but also broadcasted from Ashgabat to dozens of countries in live mode.

More than 30 speakers and around 300 delegates from 21 countries have been registered for participation in the forum this year. It includes representatives from Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Great Britain, Germany, India, Kazakhstan, China, Cyprus, Maldives, Monaco, Netherlands, Russia, Romania, USA, Uzbekistan, Finland, France, Switzerland and Japan.

NOKIA, HUAWEI, Tech Investment Co., SSI Monaco, Thales, Afghan Wireless, Airbus, Delta Telecom Ltd, Rostelecom, Eastwind, Azertelecom and other are among old and regular partners.

It was not only business circles but also specialists, leading scientists and experts in this field who expressed their interest in participation.

The opening ceremony of «Türkmentel-2020» was held in the conference hall of the Trade and Industrial Chamber of the country. Members of the Government, heads of ministries and profile departments, representatives of public organizations, universities and mass media took part in the ceremony.

The participants have listened to the greeting message of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to personnel of communication sphere and guests of the forum, in which it was noted that the dynamics of modernization of national economy is determined by the world achievements and innovations in high-technology sphere today, owing to which the process of social and economic development of Turkmenistan is marked with grandiose success.

Improving digital technological infrastructure, equipment, facility and legal base of national communication sphere according to the time requirements, we carry out fundamental reforms and implement big projects in this field, the Leader of the Nation noted.

Building international fiber optic communication lines, Turkmen states acts as transport and communication hub on the space of the Great Silk Road. Forming up strategically important link of transit systems of Central Asian region, along the West – East and North – South routes, these projects support economic development of neighboring states.

Having highlighted participation of foreign organizations, companies and businessmen, who are interested in intensification of efficient cooperation in telecommunication sphere, in the forum, Head of the State Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov expressed his firm confidence that the conference would be an efficient platform for exchange of practice between local specialists and foreign partners, for further establishment of wide-format business-like dialog as well as for review of beneficial projects in the sphere of new technologies and scientific discoveries.

The plenary session has been dedicated to the development of digital transformation of innovative, informational and communication technologies in Turkmenistan. The world practice, solutions and modern management trends have been discussed.

Introduction of digitization has changed all usual industries and models of their development today, in the age of internet and satellite communication.

The future of communication sphere is closely related to such concepts as Internet platforms, cloud services, transition to 5G, Big Data technologies, mobile finances, the ways of monetization of the content and many other,

The participants of the session have stated that the conference would help to define the vector of further progress in the sphere of communication and informational technologies for national economy and society of Turkmenistan and to implement the perspectives of digital economy in the country.

The priorities of further social and economic development of the country provides an extensive industrialization as it is impossible to imagine the present day without high-speed processing of colossal volumes of current world information and rapid exchange of data.

Taking into account modern world trends, the Leader of the Nation gives objectives for expansion of the access for educational facilities of our country to the global network. Provision of these facilities with computers, multimedia technologies, creation of IT-platforms allow conducting classes using advanced educational methods as well as provision of their access to internet opens wide opportunities for organization of educational process and training of specialists in line with requirements of international standards.

Implementing the policy of the Leader of the Nation, which is pursued under slogan “The State for Human Being!”, profile ministries and departments of the country pay special attention to introduction of telecommunication infrastructure in the regions and rural areas. The main goal of the Program of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov for development of rural areas is to improve life quality of the people, to make conditions for growth of its wealth.

Measures for industrialization of the regions, increment of output capacities of national production sphere, opening of new work places for rural citizens are aimed at this purpose. Under this work, the Türkmenaragatnaşyk provides the requirements of rural population, agricultural facilities, local administration authorities and social infrastructure in modern and qualitative information and telecommunication services including telephone communication, transfer of data and access to internet.

Our country is crossed in all direction with super modern fiber optic lines. Increment of number of local telephone numbers has led to the growth of number of international and intercity communication channels. It is important that 708-km part of Trans-Asian-European fiber optic communication system, which total length is 27,000 km from Urumchi (China) to Frankfurt (Germany) runs across our country.

The country has two main fiber optic systems – the circular Ashgabat – Mary – Turkmenabat – Dashoguz - Ashgabat and radial Garabogaz – Turkmenbashy – Ashgabat – Mary – Turkmenabat – Kerky – Ymamnazar systems, which are connected with the network of neighboring states. The projects of construction of the systems have been carried out based on DWDM technology (Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing).

At present, Turkmenistan has five international connections of the main fiber optic communication lines, which were built around the country namely Ashgabat – Badgiran (Iran), Serhetabat – Herat (Afghanistan), Turkmenabat – Bukhara (Uzbekistan) and Garabogaz – Fetisov (Kazakhstan).

In addition, installation of additional fiber optic international conection in Serhetabat – Turgundy (Afghanistan) and Kerky – Akina (Afghanistan) directions is at the final stage at present.

Signing of the Agreement between the Government of Turkmenistan and the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan on organization of cooperation in joint construction, ownership and use of fiber optic lines in Turkmenistan – Azerbaijan directions across the Caspian Sea by service providers of Turkmenistan and the Republic of Azerbaijan and its implementation would connect the cities of Turkmenbashy and Siyazan, would strengthen cooperation in diversification and improvement of telecommunication transit routes between Europe and Asia.

The Türkmenaragatnaşyk Agency is the main central authority of executive power, which implements the policy of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov in communication sphere as well as carries out state regulation and control of activity in this sphere.

Being a full member of International Telecommunication Union, the World Postal Union, Regional Communication Commonwealth of the CIS country members, GSM Association, Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers and some other big international organizations, the Agency has a long-term cooperation with these partners.

However, in addition to positive aspects, the process of connection to international and formation of national informational networks has negative impacts, which threaten to information security.

In this regard, the Cybersecurity Service has been opened under the Agency. The activity of the Service is an important direction of trustful cooperation. Turkmen side has spoken about its interest in such cooperation at the conference.

Houlin Zhao, the Secretary General of International Telecommunication Union, Nurudin Muhitdinov, the General Director of Regional Commonwealth in Communication Sphere, Louis George Romero, the General Director of European Telecommunication Standard Institute (ETSI), Elmir Tofig-ogly Velizade, the Deputy Minister of Transport, Communication and High Technologies of the Republic of Azerbaijan and many other officials were among the foreign guests who made speeches at the plenary session.

It was highlighted in the speeches of the foreign participants of the forum that digital and computer systems, which are included into network infrastructure, have become an important factor of development of the society and a method to enhance the efficiency of activity of various spheres of the economy. Therefore, Turkmen leader Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov highlights that informational market, which offers informational products and communication services.

Operation of informational market, which meets the time requirements, will make considerable influence of development of other branches and on macroeconomic processes in general. This is understanding of these processes that stimulated Turkmenistan to organize current important conference, the spokesmen said.

It was mentioned that modern trends of development of the world economy are closely related to the growth of role of informational technologies and knowledge in social life. The economy changes and starts having more innovative character and these changes are based on use of high-speed wideband communication networks and internet. Those countries, which are permanently modernized taking into account technological innovations and implement these technologies to the management of the economy, are the most competitive today.

At present time, the investment attractiveness of Turkmenistan is provided not only by grandiose resources of energy reserves. Analysis of social and economic indicators of life level of the population, which growth is the result of the policy pursued by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, is an integral part of its appraisal by international business circles.

New projects of development of communication system and telecommunication technologies are aimed at enhancement of living standards of Turkmen people, its wealth and prosperity. The availability of such plans by itself has already raised interest of the leading foreign investors.

The reports of foreign experts on new directions of development of information and communication technologies in the country members of the Regional Commonwealth in Communication Sphere have also been presented. Special attention has been paid to perspective of introduction of 5G technologies in the CIS countries, which make significant effect on development of the internet around the world.

Perspectives of development under the ITU, activity of the Regional Office of the ITU for CIS region, implementation of the Regional Development Plan of the World Postal Union for Europe and Central Asia, formation of digital market of the country members of the RCC and other subjects have been discussed at the conference.

Four sessions in such directions as Satellite Strategy and Advanced Practice, Development of fixed and mobile communication, Cybersecurity in expanding world space are planned under the conference.

The delegates of the forum will not only receive information about the condition, perspectives of development of the main directions of communication complex but also will be able to exchange their opinions on such subjects as satellite communication technologies and market of program resources, digitization and cybersecurity as well as to outline the forms of further cooperation and investment capabilities.

XIII International online conference on digital economy and innovative technologies in Turkmenistan «Türkmentel-2020» will continue its work on November 25.

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