During a working trip to Balkan velayat, the President of Turkmenistan visited a fishing enterprise in the Caspian Sea, where he met with fishermen who fish here, the State News Agency of the country reported on January 13.

The head of state took a detailed interest in the working and living conditions of the fishermen, the lives of their family members, asked about the catches and economic benefits from fishing, and the frequency of going to sea.

The fishermen said that during the month they go out to the sea 10-12 times, at a distance of 3000 meters from the shore they catch fish. The catch is about 40-50 kilograms of fish, which is enough for the needs of their families and sale in trade markets.

Being members of the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of the country, they can sell their catch in any market, in trading shops, as well as increase the range of products through fish processing. The privatization of the fishing industry has become a stimulating factor in fishing.

The head of state was also presented with various dishes prepared from seafood. Fishermen - residents of the Esenguly etrap told about the huge variety of fish dishes that are served at festive celebrations in their area.

By tradition, the distinguished guest was not only treated with treats, but also greeted with songs - original ghazals, born on the banks of the ancient Hazar, as well as the famous ritual dance “kushtdepdi”, which became the “visiting card” of Turkmenistan and recognized by UNESCO as the heritage of the intangible culture of mankind.

It should be noted that President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov made his first working trip to the Esenguly etrap of Balkan velayat. After the visit of the head of state, a new modern city was created here, where new buildings of the hyakimlik, a carpet factory, a Palace of Culture, a digital automatic telephone exchange, a sea water desalination plant, a shopping center, cottages were erected, a Health House equipped with advanced medical equipment and a multidisciplinary hospital were opened, as well as multimedia school and kindergarten, sports and recreation complex and other facilities.

In 2018, Esenguly was marked as the best etrap in the country and received 1 million US dollars from the State Development Fund for its further development.