Christophe Petit
PRESIDENT OF FRANCE-TURKMENISTAN BUSINESS COUNCIL OF MEDEF INTERNATIONAL AND DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER OF BOUYGUES BATIMENT INTERNATIONAL
Politics & Diplomacy I Interview I The Investor Turkmenistan
_BIOGRAPHY He is the Deputy General Manager of Bouygues Bâtiment International. With extensive experience in the construction industry, he plays a key role in managing international projects for Bouygues, a global leader in infrastructure. he oversees strategic development and partnerships, contributing to the company's growth and success in various markets, including Turkmenistan.
MEDEF INTERNATIONAL, THE LEADING FRENCH BUSINESS ORGANIZATION, PLAYS A PIVOTAL ROLE IN FOSTERING ECONOMIC TIES BETWEEN FRANCE AND TURKMENISTAN.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE CURRENT STATE OF BILATERAL RELATIONS BETWEEN FRANCE AND TURKMENISTAN? WHAT HAVE BEEN THE KEY ACHIEVEMENTS AND CHALLENGES IN THIS PARTNERSHIP?
As the Chairman of MEDEF International's France-Turkmenistan Business Council, I will focus on the economic aspect of this bilateral relationship. Over the past 25 years, exports from France to Turkmenistan have unfortunately remained rather modest, although they have shown a positive annual growth rate of 6.8%, reflecting the developing ties between our two countries.
Companies such as Bouygues and Thales have been well-established in Turkmenistan since the country’s independence, while others, notably in the aerospace sector, have recently achieved considerable success. We believe there is still ample room to expand our cooperation, and we are ready to foster useful connections, identify opportunities, help resolve challenges, and contribute to establishing a bilateral project pipeline.
CAN YOU PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE SIGNIFICANT EVENTS ORGANIZED BETWEEN FRANCE AND TURKMENISTAN RECENTLY? HOW DO THESE EVENTS CONTRIBUTE TO STRENGTHENING THE ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL TIES BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES?
MEDEF International organized a major business delegation to Ashgabat in February 2023, bringing together nearly 20 French companies from a wide variety of sectors. Companies from the energy, construction, finance, agriculture, transport, and engineering sectors were represented. This was our first delegation to Ashgabat since 2012, which highlights a renewed interest in your country.
This interest was further confirmed when we hosted the Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Excellency R. Meredov, in September 2023, with the participation of around 50 French companies. It is crucial to maintain this platform for exchanges between Turkmen decision-makers and French companies, whether or not they are already established in Turkmenistan.
WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE MOST PROMISING SECTORS FOR FRENCH COMPANIES TO INVEST IN TURKMENISTAN? ARE THERE ANY SPECIFIC INCENTIVES OR SUPPORT MECHANISMS IN PLACE TO ENCOURAGE FRENCH INVESTMENT IN THE COUNTRY?
In addition to the ongoing cooperation, we can broaden our collaboration to new sectors where France has world-leading expertise. I am thinking particularly of healthcare, space, defense, renewable energy, and agriculture—areas where French companies can bring cutting-edge technologies, supported by a comprehensive export finance toolkit. The future development of a major new city like Ashgabat City also offers considerable opportunities for French companies involved in the entire urban infrastructure chain.
What are the main priorities or projects that MEDEF International has outlined for 2024/25 to further enhance economic relations with Turkmenistan? How do you plan to achieve these objectives?
We will continue to maintain an active cycle of engagement with Turkmenistan, facilitating exchanges between Turkmen decision-makers and French companies. First-hand information is essential for businesses. We are also organizing various meetings with French decision-makers to inform French companies about the opportunities available in Turkmenistan and to strengthen our business ties.