In January 2022, the construction of a plant for the production of glycyrrhizic acid from licorice root will begin in the structure of the Buyan agricultural complex of the “Turkmendermansenagat” association in Turkmenabat. The relevant Decree was signed by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov today during a government meeting, the “Vatan” news program of the Turkmen television reported.

As part of the official visit of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to the Italian Republic in November 2019, between the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan and the Italian company Adipson Ind. srl. a Memorandum was signed on the preparation of a project for an enterprise for the production of unrefined glycyrrhizic acid through the processing of licorice root.

According to the document, the Turkmen enterprise Mizemez gadam, the winner of the tender for the selection of a contractor, will build a plant with a capacity of 390 tons of crude glycyrrhizic acid per year.

The document prescribes to hand over the plant with full readiness for operation in January 2024.

It should be noted that the Turkmen leader has repeatedly stressed the need for a detailed study of the antiviral effects of glycyrrhizic acid.

Turkmen licorice, according to Berdimuhamedov, can help in the fight against a new type of coronavirus infection. In December 2020, the head of state instructed the head of the Academy of Sciences and the Minister of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan to conduct research in this area.

The medicinal properties of licorice root and the active substance in its composition - glycyrrhizic acid - in the fight against COVID-19 were also discussed by Turkmen and German experts.