Rashid Meredov, Turkmenistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, welcomed Prince Turki bin Mohammed bin Fahd, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of State and Cabinet Member, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ashgabat. This meeting marked a significant moment in the growing bilateral relations between the two countries. Both officials engaged in discussions aimed at deepening their collaboration across multiple sectors.
One of the key topics was the expansion of mutual cooperation in various fields, including trade, healthcare, and infrastructure. This meeting comes after a major development earlier this year. Saudi Arabia and Turkmenistan took a significant step forward in their partnership. The signing of an $80 million development loan agreement serves as a major milestone in strengthening their ties.
The loan, facilitated by the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD), is set to fund a crucial healthcare project in Turkmenistan. Sultan Al-Marshad, the Chief Executive of SFD, signed the agreement with Rahimberdi Jepbarov, the Chairman of the Turkmenistan State Bank for Foreign Economic Affairs. The project’s primary goal is to enhance cancer treatment services across Turkmenistan.
The funds will be allocated to establish three state-of-the-art cancer treatment centers throughout the country. These centers will be equipped with the latest medical technologies and will have a combined capacity of 500 beds. The establishment of these centers will provide much-needed healthcare services to the local population. This aims to improve cancer treatment accessibility and overall patient care.
This agreement and the discussions between the two officials underscore the growing cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Turkmenistan. By focusing on key areas such as healthcare development, both countries are working to improve the well-being of their citizens and strengthen their strategic partnership for the future.
