Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov instructed deputy prime minister Tachberdi Tagiyev to pay serious attention to the national fish industry. "We have every possibility to make this industry highly profitable," the head of state noted during an expanded government meeting on 6 April. The meeting discussed the results of the social and economic development of Turkmenistan in the first quarter of 2009.

During the meeting Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov appointed Batyr Tekayev chairman of the state fishery committee. Before this appointment he worked as director general of the Nebitgazhyzmat joint stock company of the ministry of oil and gas industry and mineral resources of Turkmenistan.