OREANDA-NEWS. August 13, 2010. The interagency seminar on population and development issues brought together the deputies of the Mejlis, the specialists of the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry, the Ministry of Economy and Development, the Ministry of Social Welfare, the Ministry of Education, the State Committee for Statistics, the Institute of Strategic Planning and Economic Development, the Turkmen National Institute for Democracy and Human Rights under the President of Turkmenistan and the Women’s Union of Turkmenistan in Ashgabat.

The forum was organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Institute of Strategic Planning and Economic Development of Turkmenistan and the UN Population Fund. Sergiu Sainciuc, Deputy Minister of Labour, Social Protection and Family of the Republic of Moldova and Ulan Kasymbekov, a deputy of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan had been invited to participate in the seminar.

The reports focused on the population and development issues, in particular the methodology for planning and drafting the action plans in this sphere by specialized national institutions. It was noted that the policy of progressive reforms and changes was implemented in Turkmenistan in compliance with the principle “a state for the people” declared by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and in conformity with the Programme of Actions adopted at the United Nations International Conference on Population and Development and the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.

As is known, a census that underlies the national statistics system in every country is the most reliable source of statistical data on the demographic and social indicators. In this context the forum participants underscored the significant role of the 2012 population and housing census, the results of which would be used to make projections and design long-term programmes of the development of all sectors of the national economy and the state budget.

The UNFPA experts and the specialists from the CIS states made the presentation on the best international practices in interagency collaboration and the measures aimed at implementing priority national projects and population policy.

The seminar participants called for enhancing contacts between the institutions population and development issues and discussed the possible ways of collaboration in this field.

During the visit to the Turkmen capital the foreign guests will have the meetings at the Ministry of Economy and Development, the Ministry of Social Welfare, the State Statistics Committee and the Institute of Strategic Planning and Economic Development.