The Turkmen-French business forum took place in Paris on February 2. It was attended by Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, who was on an official visit to France.

The business forum in "Ritz" hotel brought together heads of several major French companies, including Aksens, Bouygues, Total, Technip, Sifal Group, Vinci, GDF-Seuss, Sofema, Dresser Rand SA, Arianespace, Irrifrans Industries and other companies specializing in the energy sphere and various branches of transport, industrial and civil construction, architecture, manufacture of industrial equipment, irrigation, industry, healthcare, banking and financial sectors, aero-space.

Speaking at the forum, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov briefed representatives of the French business elite on the priorities of economic development and foreign economic strategy of Turkmenistan, the State News Agency of Turkmenistan (TDH) said.

Given the impressive energy potential of Turkmenistan, the oil and gas sphere is of particular interest to foreign partners because there are great prospects for cooperation in this sphere, the head of state noted. According to him, Turkmenistan has more than 150 oil and gas fields that need further exploration. The total volume of hydrocarbon reserves in the country is estimated at more than 45 billion tons of equivalent fuel.

In turn, vice president and general manager of GDF-Seuss company J.F. Cirelli said that France and Europe in general are highly interested in expanding cooperation with Turkmenistan in the fuel and energy sector, and supplies of Turkmen natural gas. According to the businessman, having enormous energy potential and implementing a strategy of mutually beneficial cooperation based on the principles of diversification of export of its energy resources to world markets, Turkmenistan is particularly attractive to European partners.