On 4 September, an international meeting of leaders of the National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies of the CIS countries began at the ‘Archabil’ Hotel in Ashgabat. The event is being held in a hybrid format with the participation of representatives of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Committee of the Red Cross, as well as delegates from Azerbaijan, Armenia, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Qatar. Delegates from Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan are participating in the discussions online. This was reported by the online publication ‘Turkmenistan: Golden age’. During the two-day meeting, attention will be paid to mechanisms for responding to emergencies, increasing disaster resilience and strengthening humanitarian diplomacy. Turkmenistan's permanent neutrality provides ample opportunities for effective dialogue, including on complex issues that have arisen in some European regions. Participants will consider the development of humanitarian activities based on fundamental principles and discuss the institutional strengthening of national societies. The event is being held as part of the International Year of Peace and Trust, which makes the discussions particularly relevant.
On 1 September, the Consulate of Turkmenistan in the Russian Federation (Astrakhan) hosted a conference dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the country's permanent neutrality, Knowledge and Student Youth Day. This was reported by the Consulate's press service. The event was attended by Consulate staff, representatives of the Astrakhan Regional Public Organisation for the Preservation of Turkmen Culture, students, teachers and pupils of the Magtymguly Pyragy School in the village of Funtovo. Turkmenistan Consul Gadam Ilamanov congratulated the young people on the start of the academic year, spoke about the importance of neutrality and the achievements of Turkmenistan, as well as the upcoming meeting of the Halk Maslahaty. The schoolchildren also read poems by Magtymguly Pyragy in the Turkmen language. At the end of the conference, the Consulate presented letters of appreciation and commemorative gifts to the participants for their active participation in cultural and educational events.
A training programme on developing women's entrepreneurship has been successfully completed in Turkmenistan. The event, entitled ‘Improving the Competitiveness of Women in the Private Sector of the Labor Market of Turkmenistan’, was organised by the country's Union of Economists with the support of the EU and methodological assistance from the public association ‘Achievements of the Young People of Turkmenistan’. This was reported by IIC. In August this year, courses were held in Ashgabat and Turkmenbashi. Female entrepreneurs selected on a competitive basis improved their professional qualifications free of charge. The training programme covered key aspects of modern business: the basics of financial planning and business plan development, legal norms of entrepreneurial activity, business communication, as well as the application of innovative technologies and AI. Special attention was paid to strategies for promoting business in the media and social networks. The classes were conducted by certified trainers and expert practitioners, which ensured the effectiveness of the theoretical part of the training and the successful acquisition of the necessary skills. According to the organisers, the programme has nationwide coverage and aims to support women from all regions of the country who seek self-fulfilment in the private sector. There are plans to continue similar educational initiatives in the future.
UNICEF in Turkmenistan, in collaboration with the country's Ministry of Education, has launched an initiative called ‘Advancing Parenting Support through Preschool Education.’ This was reported by the news website Turkmenportal. From 26 to 28 August, a training course was held for 25 kindergarten teachers, aimed at developing their skills in interacting with parents and improving the quality of early education. Teachers were introduced to practical methods of working with families: conducting classes for parents, fostering a caring attitude towards children and creating a stimulating environment at home. In the new academic year, teachers will join a pilot programme to support parents, which will serve as a platform for sharing experiences and a source of professional advice on the upbringing and development of preschoolers.
The third ‘BeregA’ Youth Educational Forum, part of the ‘Rosmolodezh.Forums’ federal project programme, will be held in the Astrakhan Region from 8 to 12 September. In 2025, the event set a record for the number of applications, creating competition among more than 20 applicants for each place. This was reported by IIC. A key innovation of the forum will be the international shift ‘Caspian Bridge of Professions,’ which will bring together 60 delegates from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Belarus, and Abkhazia. Three hundred young professionals aged 14 to 35 will take part in this large-scale event. The work will be organised across five professional platforms designed for service specialists, architects and engineers, property managers, agronomists and veterinarians, designers and 3D modellers. The forum aims to create a community of active young professionals who adhere to traditional spiritual and moral values.
From 25 to 29 August 2025, the Ministry of Communications of Turkmenistan, in cooperation with UNDP, will hold a series of training sessions on digital transformation for representatives of government agencies and businesses. This was reported by the Orient news agency. The events are part of the preparation of the Concept and State Programme on the Digital Economy for 2026-2028. Representatives of about 30 ministries and departments, entrepreneurs, small and medium-sized businesses, as well as start-ups will take part in the training. The programme covers issues of digitalisation of public administration, strategic planning, cybersecurity, data management and the study of international experience. The sessions are led by UNDP international expert Aare Laponin. The training sessions are aimed at strengthening institutional capacity and implementing digital solutions, which will be a step towards the implementation of the programme for the development of the digital economy in Turkmenistan.
UNDP in Turkmenistan, in collaboration with the UNDP Knowledge Project, is launching the second phase of the Future Skills Academy initiative, aimed at developing in-demand skills and improving employment opportunities for young people through online courses. This was reported by the news website Turkmenportal. Citizens of Turkmenistan and stateless persons with permanent residence in the country and a valid residence permit are eligible to participate. The programme covers universal, entrepreneurial and technical skills, including topics such as communication, business planning, digital literacy and programming. Training takes place online on the Coursera platform with the support of mentors. The initiative is being implemented as part of a regional project to prevent violent extremism in Central Asia, funded by the Japanese government and supported by the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Population of Turkmenistan.
Registration has begun in Ashgabat for participants in the International Conference on the ‘Development of the Construction, Industrial, Chemical and Energy Sectors of Turkmenistan’ (CIET 2025). This was reported by the news website Turkmenportal. The event, scheduled for early November, will serve as a platform for discussing cross-sectoral innovations, investment projects and opportunities for cooperation in the field of sustainable development. CIET 2025 will continue the tradition of the 2024 conference, which brought together more than 450 delegates from 50 countries, including representatives of ‘Çalık Holding’, ‘Rönesans Holding’, ‘Daewoo E&C’, ‘Mitsubishi’ and ‘Gertner Group’. The forum programme includes an international exhibition of technological solutions, plenary sessions on digitalisation and sustainable development, as well as B2B and B2G meetings for establishing business contacts. Special attention will be paid to the training and development of young professionals.
The capital of Turkmenistan will host an international scientific and practical conference entitled ‘The Potential of Artificial Intelligence in Achieving Sustainable Development Goals in Education.’ The event is organised by the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan in conjunction with the UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education. This was reported by IIC. The forum will bring together UNESCO representatives, international experts, scientists and educators to discuss the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies into national and global education systems. Key topics will include the digitalisation of education, the development of media literacy, the ethical aspects of AI application and the introduction of innovative teaching technologies. The conference will pay particular attention to the personalisation of learning and the development of critical thinking with the help of AI. The event is aimed at sharing best practices, developing joint strategies and increasing the competitiveness of Turkmenistan's education system. The conference is part of the education digitalisation strategy implemented by the Ministry with the support of UNESCO. This strategy includes infrastructure development, teacher training and the creation of national standards for digital competence.
An expert webinar aimed at strengthening national capacity in monitoring the Sustainable Development Goals was held in Turkmenistan. The event was organised by the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in cooperation with the country's State Committee on Statistics. This was reported by IIC. Experts from authoritative international organisations, including FAO, UN-Habitat, the International Union for Conservation of Nature and UNEP, were invited to participate in the online meeting. During the webinar, international experts shared practical recommendations on key areas of sustainable development, such as fisheries management, urban infrastructure and public utilities development, as well as the protection of aquatic ecosystems and monitoring of endangered species. The methodologies and tools obtained during the webinar will improve the national system of statistical observation and data analysis, which will increase the effectiveness of monitoring Turkmenistan's progress in implementing the global Sustainable Development Goals.
In Astrakhan, as part of the 10th Caspian Media Forum, a ceremony was held to award the winners of the international journalism competition ‘Caspian without Borders.’ Turkmen journalists achieved outstanding results, winning in two key categories. This was reported by the IIC. Muhammet Bekgiyev, a journalist for the ‘Turkmenistan’ newspaper, won first place in the ‘Discovering the Countries of the Caspian Sea,’ category with his work ‘The Path of Abai, or the Teachings of the Kazakh Thinker in the Modern World.’ His colleague, Ilaman Churiyev, took second place in the ‘PhotoCaspian’ category for a series of photographs dedicated to the flora and fauna of Ashgabat and issues of environmental education. In total, over 120 entries from different countries were submitted to the jury, and awards were presented in five categories. The competition, organised with the support of the Astrakhan Region Government and the Russian Ministry of Digital Development, once again highlighted the importance of professional dialogue and cooperation between journalists from the Caspian states.
A meeting between representatives of Turkmenistan and regional leaders took place on the sidelines of the anniversary Caspian Media Forum in the Astrakhan Region. This was reported by IIC. Governor Igor Babushkin noted the steady growth in trade between Turkmenistan and the Astrakhan Region, which increased by 15% last year, and confirmed his readiness to further strengthen the partnership. This year, significant deliveries have already been made, including 18 tonnes of fish products and wheat flour. During the meeting, the parties discussed prospects for expanding cooperation in the trade, economic and humanitarian spheres. Rustam Mammedov, Editor-in-Chief of the State Committee for Television, Radio Broadcasting and Cinematography of Turkmenistan, thanked the host side for organising the event and emphasised the importance of media interaction for strengthening bilateral relations.