German Chancellor Angela Merkel rolled out the red carpet Friday for the leader of Turkmenistan, as both said there was enormous potential for deepening economic ties.
Turkmenistan "is a country rich in gas and oil," Merkel told reporters after talks with President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov.
"Germany is ready to do more in terms of co-operation" with Turkmenistan, Merkel said, adding that trade was currently "far below its potential."
Berdymukhamedov told the joint press conference that he also saw room for closer ties with Europe's biggest economy.
"We would like to see stronger momentum" in trade relations, he said.
"We have had good experience with German firms that are already working in our country," he said, adding that Germany offered "favorable conditions" for economic development.
About 50 German firms have operations in Turkmenistan and bilateral trade volume reached EUR161 million in 2007, according to the German Foreign Ministry.
Germany, which has few energy resources of its own, is seeking to diversify its supplies and has stepped up efforts to court countries in regions, such as Central Asia and North Africa, with major gas and oil reserves.