Bouygues in Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan : a brief history
A presidential democracy in Central Asia, bordered by the Caspian Sea to the west, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to the north, Afghanistan to the east and Iran to the south, Turkmenistan is the same size as France and has a population of six million divided into five tribes. Its main resources are hydrocarbons and cotton farming. It is a neutral and peaceful country.
Conquered by the Russian Empire in 1865, the country became a Soviet Republic in 1924. During the earthquake of 1948, its capital, Ashgabat, was completely flattened. In October 1991, taking advantage of the dismantling of the Soviet bloc, Turkmenistan acquired its independence under the presidency of Saparmurat Niazov. Following his death on 21 December 2006 at the age of 66, he was succeeded by Gourbangouli Berdimoukhamedov.
Since his investiture on 14 February 2007, the new President has introduced social reforms and is pursuing an opening onto the outside world and a liberalisation of the country’s economy, especially in the tourism sector.
Bouygues’ history in Turkmenistan
The city of Saint Petersburg, rebuilt by the Italians and French, had fascinated President Niazov during his final university cycle. President Mitterrand was the first Western president to recognise Turkmenistan following its independence. With his desire to develop his capital by drawing inspiration from the Saint Petersburg model, President Niazov used this occasion to request the participation of a French contractor. The choice fell on Bouygues, one of the world’s largest construction contractors.
The first operation, the Guek Dépé Mosque, built on a historic site, took place in October 1992. Fifteen years on, the contractor is still present in Turkmenistan where it has completed 35 projects of irreproachable quality in sectors such as education, culture, leisure, civil buildings, national palaces and industry.
With its technical capacities to design and build large turnkey projects, Bouygues Turkmen has acquired an excellent reputation and now forms an integral part of Turkmenistan’s economic fabric.
Bouygues Construction head office
Bouygues GROUP SIMPLIFIED ORGANISATION CHART
To 5 october 2007
