Topic: Economy & business
Ashgabat, 5 October 2005 (nCa) --- Head of the largest Russian mobile phone operator MTS and secretary of state of the Russia-Belarus union expressed confidence Tuesday that the Turkmen mobile phone market could grow to one million users.
Vasiliy Sidorov, president of MTS that is the largest mobile phone provider in Turkmenistan also, and Paval Borodin, state secretary of the Russia-Belarus union, were on a charm offensive to win the economic cooperation of Turkmenistan.
After their meeting with President Niyazov, Borodin said, “You see, the conversation was very detailed. We talked about the range of programs, which today exist in union state Belarus-Russia. These include mobile communication, gas industry, agricultural production.”
Borodin told, “Today we also discussed the issue of development of mobile communication with MTS. We discussed it in details. Today you have few mobile telephones. Total number is 106000 for 6.5 million. We have 100 million of mobile phones for a population of 150 million.”
“I like very much the position of President [Niyazov]. We discussed this matter with participation of Ministry of communication, vice-premier, with participation of MTS president and president of Rosbank, which finances the project. The president gave clear instructions on investment and making the agreement, which he personally will sign,” explained Borodin.
“I think in the nearest 3-4 years MTS and Rosbank will increase investments in mobile communication. I think those 50000 of mobile phones will be expanded to 250000 or 350000 and then to 1 million,” he underlined.
Vasiliy Sidorov of MTS was also optimistic. He said, “We are very thankful to the President for the opportunity to talk him about our plans of investing in Turkmenistan – in the Turkmen market of mobile communication. We were given the opportunity to confirm our assurance that the market will grow at rapid pace.”
“We confirmed that we are here as long-term strategic partners,” he underlined.
Posted by countryturkmenistan
at 11:01 PM
