The President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, has congratulated the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, and the people of France on their national holiday — Bastille Day. This was reported by the news agency TDH. In his message of congratulations, the Turkmen Head of State wished President Emmanuel Macron good health and happiness, and the people of France peace and prosperity.
A delegation from Uzbekistan, led by Foreign Affairs Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov, has arrived in Ashgabat. The main purpose of the visit is to hold political consultations between the foreign ministries of the two countries as part of efforts to strengthen their strategic partnership, according to IIC of Turkmenistan. On the first day of the programme, the delegation visited historical and cultural sites in Turkmenistan. Representatives of the Uzbek Foreign Affairs Ministry laid flowers at the Monument to Independence in Turkmenistan and visited the ‘Magtymguly Pyragy’ cultural and park complex, where they paid tribute to the memory of the great Uzbek poet and thinker Alisher Navoi. The guests also visited the State Museum of the State Cultural Centre of Turkmenistan, where they viewed archaeological finds and ethnographic exhibits. The cultural programme concluded with a visit to the Ashgabat Equestrian Sports Complex, where a display of Ahal-Teke horses took place. On the second day of the visit, negotiations between the delegations of the two countries are scheduled to take place at the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Turkmenistan. Following the meetings, a number of joint documents are expected to be signed.
In Turkmenistan, 20 new degree programmes and fields of study will be launched at the country’s higher education institutions in the 2026–2027 academic year. This was reported by the news website Turkmenportal. The International University of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs will begin offering a bachelor’s degree in ‘Artificial Intelligence and Expert Systems’. The Polytechnic Secondary Specialised Educational Institution of the Ministry of Communications will launch a degree programme in ‘Artificial Intelligence and Data Analysis’. These new educational programmes are being introduced in response to the growing demand within Turkmenistan’s economy for qualified specialists in various fields.
In 2026, higher education institutions in Turkmenistan plan to enrol over 18,000 students. This was reported by the news website Turkmenportal. This is 1,239 more than last year, when around 17,000 applicants were admitted to higher education institutions. Plans for admissions to higher education institutions and vocational training establishments in Turkmenistan for the new academic year have already been approved. The admissions campaign will run from 13 July to 24 August. Entrance examinations for applicants will be organised directly at the relevant educational institutions.
Turkmenistan is stepping up measures to combat desertification as part of the UN Decade of Action (2025–2034). The country is implementing its third National Forest Programme (2026–2030), under which afforestation efforts are continuing. This has been reported by the IIC of Turkmenistan. Since 1993, more than 160 million trees have been planted, including saxaul, which helps to stabilise the sand. Particular attention is being paid to the restoration of the Aral Sea region’s ecosystem. Protective forest belts are being created on the dried-up bed of the Aral Sea and the Botendag hills, whilst engineering methods are also being used to stabilise the sand. One of the key international initiatives will be the establishment in Ashgabat of a Regional Centre for Combating Desertification, which will coordinate cooperation among the countries of Central Asia in the areas of pasture restoration, the rational use of water resources and the exchange of environmental expertise.
Last week, 16 transactions were recorded on the State Commodity and Raw Materials Exchange of Turkmenistan. This was reported by the news website Turkmenportal. Liquefied gas, textile products, cottonseed oil, cotton yarn, fabrics, denim products, cleaned cotton spinning waste, as well as boilers and ceramic sanitaryware were sold for export in exchange for foreign currency. The buyers were companies from Georgia, the UAE, Turkey and Uzbekistan. The total value of the export contracts exceeded 3.297 million US dollars. On the domestic market, Turkmen entrepreneurs purchased polypropylene, wheat flour, cotton yarn, raw silk and cotton fibre. The total value of the transactions amounted to 128.216 million manats.
Young teachers and academics from Turkmenistan took part in the international seminar ‘Chinese Language Teaching for Central Asian Countries’, which was held in Beijing. This was reported by the IIC of Turkmenistan. As part of the programme, participants learnt about modern methods of teaching Chinese, the HSK testing system and the use of digital technologies in education. In addition to the training sessions, a cultural programme was organised for the teachers, including visits to historical sites and lectures on Chinese traditions. Following the seminar, the Turkmen specialists acquired new professional skills, which they plan to apply in educational practice in Turkmenistan.
The ‘Türkmengeologiýa’ State Corporation has taken delivery of four new ‘Sitrak ZZ4406 V395 ME’ heavy-duty tractor units, designed to transport heavy drilling equipment and materials to remote geological exploration sites. This was reported by the news website Asmannews. The new vehicles have a high load capacity, a powerful engine, a reinforced chassis and are adapted for operation in the challenging road and climatic conditions of Turkmenistan. Modern control systems and a comfortable cab also enhance safety and driver comfort. The expansion of the vehicle fleet will help speed up the implementation of geological exploration projects, improve the efficiency of transporting machinery and equipment, and strengthen the material and technical base of the State Corporation ‘Türkmengeologiýa’.
School pupils from Turkmenistan made a successful debut at the 7th International ‘Copernicus’ Mathematics Olympiad, the global stage of which took place in Singapore from 22 to 27 June. This was reported by the news agency Orient. In the competition, which brought together participants from more than 13 countries, the Turkmenistan team won six medals: one gold, three silver and two bronze. Ayjeren Muhammatnazarova, a pupil at the ‘Belent Bilim’ Educational Centre in Mary, won the gold medal and the title of ‘Absolute Winner’ in her age category. The silver medallists were Davut Muhammatnazarov (‘Belent Bilim’, Mary), Geldimyrat Saryev (School No. 135, Ashgabat) and Emirmuhammet Sabyrov (School No. 35, Hazar, Balkan velayat). Bronze medals were won by Ahmet Bagtiyarov (School No. 135, Ashgabat) and Melike Begliyeva (School No. 97, Ashgabat). The ‘Copernicus Olympiad’ is one of the most prestigious international competitions, where school pupils demonstrate their knowledge, logical thinking and skills in solving complex mathematical problems.
Athletes from Turkmenistan won 415 medals at international competitions between January and June 2026. This was announced by Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers B. Mammedov at a government meeting dedicated to the country’s socio-economic development results for the first half of the year, according to the news agency ‘Turkmenistan: Golden age’. According to the Deputy Prime Minister, in June, Turkmen athletes added a further 114 medals to the national team’s tally. Work on the development of physical culture and sport also continued during the reporting period. The President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, emphasised the importance of continuing to create conditions to encourage young people to take part in mass sport and gave the Deputy Prime Minister the relevant instructions.
The International Exhibition and Conference on ‘Development of the Construction, Industrial, Chemical, Energy Sectors of Turkmenistan’ will take place in Ashgabat from 3 to 5 November 2026. This was reported by the press office of the Turkmenistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry. According to the source, the event is being organised by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan. As part of the exhibition and scientific conference, participants will present modern technological solutions and equipment for the construction and industrial sectors. The source reports that the aim of the event is to attract foreign investment into key sectors of Turkmenistan’s economy, as well as to strengthen regional and international cooperation. The exhibition is expected to provide a platform for the exchange of professional expertise, the presentation of new projects and the discussion of development prospects for the construction, industrial, chemical and energy sectors. Participants will have the opportunity to showcase their technological innovations, expand their business networks and establish new partnerships with representatives from various countries.
An International Conference and Exhibition entitled ‘International Transport and Transit Corridors: Interconnection and Development – 2026’, as well as the International Exhibition and Scientific Conference ‘Turkmentel – 2026’, will take place in Ashgabat from 24 to 26 November 2026. This was reported by the press office of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan. The events are being organised by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan. According to the source, as part of ‘Turkmentel – 2026’, participants will discuss the development of digital transformation, cyber security, satellite communications technologies and the implementation of the state strategy for digital development.