Turks invest $2 bln in Caspian tourism

ASHGABAT – Anatolia News Agency

Turkish President Abdullah Gül (C) and his Turkmen counterpart Bedrimuhammedow are seen in this May photo. Turkish investments in Turkmenistan are boosting.

Turkish companies have invested more than $2 billion in the Avaza Free Tourism Zone along the Caspian Sea in Turkmenistan, according to a report published recently.

Special efforts are being made to boost Turkmen tourism by building first-class hotels and health, sports and resting facilities in accordance with international standards, according to a recent report from the Turkmenistan’s Committee of Tourism and Sports.

Some 18 facilities, nearly all of which have been constructed by Turkish companies, in the Avaza region are worth more than $2 billion, the report said. Meanwhile, the Turkish Belda Construction Company will soon begin construction of a new hotel worth $113 million in the Avaza region. Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow is also expected to join the groundbreaking ceremony for the hotel in the coming days, according to the report.

Turkmenistan declared the Avaza region a “tourism zone” in 2007 with intentions of making this region a center for tourism. As part of the Avaza project, the region will have new hotels, health centers, sports facilities, villas, motels, business centers, children’s camps, resting facilities and cultural centers.

About 90 percent of the facilities in the region were built by Turkish companies, such as Polimeks İnşaat, Sehil İnşaat, İçkale, Delta, Belda, Lotus Enerji and Şahin İnşaat.

Until now, Turkish construction firms have completed more than 600 projects worth $20 billion in Turkmenistan.