On June 21, two foreign trade transactions worth a total of 836,400 US dollars were concluded at the State Commodity and Raw Materials Exchange of Turkmenistan. This was reported by the press service of the SCRMET. Entrepreneurs from Afghanistan purchased a batch of liquefied gas from the State Concern ‘Türkmennebit’. Also, within the framework of the auction, Kyrgyz businessmen signed a contract with Turkmen manufacturers for the purchase of cotton yarn.
Merdan and Shohrat Toylyev retained the lead in the T2 class at the 2025 Silk Way Rally. Following the results of the tenth stage, which ended on July 21, they again showed the best time and increased the gap from their rivals. This was reported by the news agency Orient. The stage, which covered more than 515 km, passed through picturesque areas of Mongolia and brought the racers back to Russian territory. After a confident victory in this stage, the Toylyevs strengthened their lead in the overall standings, ahead of their closest rival, Meylis Abdullayev, by almost seven hours. It should be recalled that the change of leader took place on the ninth stage, when the brothers' main rival, Maksatmyrat Danatarov, received a major penalty.
Silk production is an important industry in Turkmenistan with deep historical roots. One of the leading enterprises in this field is the Turkmenabat Silk Production Association, which has been operating since 1931 under the auspices of the State Concern ‘Türkmenpagta’. This was reported by the news agency ‘Turkmenistan: Golden age’. During the years of independence, the association was modernised, which significantly increased production efficiency. In the first six months of 2025, the enterprise fulfilled its raw silk production plan by 119.3%, producing about 33.5 tonnes of products. It also produced 4.94 million square metres of cotton fabric and 60,000 square metres of silk fabric, exceeding its targets by more than 106% and 115%, respectively. The enterprise operates in two shifts, employees are provided with transport and have the opportunity to relax at the ‘Hasyl’ health centre in the ‘Avaza’ tourist zone. The association has workshops for processing cocoons, spinning, weaving, dyeing and the production of consumer goods. Raw materials are supplied by silk producers in the Lebap, Mary and Dashoguz velayats. Special attention is paid to the handcrafting of high-quality silk carpets and souvenirs. All of these items are available in the company's brand store at reasonable prices.
On July 21, Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Ahmet Gurbanov met with the newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to Turkmenistan, Ji Shumin, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During the meeting, the Chinese diplomat presented copies of his credentials. This was reported by the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Turkmenistan. The Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister of Turkmenistan congratulated the Ambassador on his appointment and assured him of his country's readiness to provide comprehensive support to his diplomatic mission. During the conversation, the diplomats discussed prospects for further strengthening bilateral relations, paying particular attention to the development of political dialogue and trade and economic cooperation, particularly in the energy sector. The sides reaffirmed their mutual interest in deepening the strategic partnership between Turkmenistan and China, noting the importance of regular high-level contacts for strengthening bilateral ties.
An international training course entitled ‘Caspian Sea – Sustainable Development and Management’ is being held in Ashgabat from 14 to 25 July this year, organised with the support of the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Turkmenistan, the Caspian Sea Institute and the International Ocean Institute. The event brought together experts from five Caspian countries to discuss pressing issues of marine resource management, ecology and international cooperation. This was reported by the online publication ‘Turkmenistan: Golden age’. Representatives from Russia, Iran, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, including diplomats, environmentalists and maritime industry experts, are participating in the training course. Turkmenistan is represented by employees of key agencies – the state corporations ‘Türkmengaz’, ‘Türkmennebit’ and ‘Türkmengeologiýa’, as well as the ministries of justice, environmental protection, finance and economy. The course programme includes lectures, discussions and practical sessions on hydrometeorology, legal regulation, economic cooperation and environmental safety in the Caspian Sea. Particular attention is paid to the development of partnerships and the exchange of experience between the Caspian littoral states.
On 20 July this year, the 7th China Xinjiang International Dance Festival was officially opened in Urumqi, with creative groups from nine countries, including Turkmenistan, taking part. The festival brought together artists from Central Asia, Europe and Southeast Asia, creating a unique platform for cultural dialogue. This was reported by the IIC. Turkmen performers had the opportunity to showcase the richness of their national dance art alongside groups from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, the United States, Italy and Cambodia. In addition to the main programme in Urumqi, festival events will be held in several cities of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, including the Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture and Hotan. The organisers have prepared a rich programme that includes street shows dedicated to the Silk Road, an international dance carnival and a week of traditional opera. The festival, which has been held since 2008, has already become a significant event in cultural cooperation under the ‘Belt and Road Initiative’. Over the years, more than 130 groups from 70 countries around the world have participated in the festival.
The second meeting of representatives of the film industry of Turkic countries, organised by the International Organisation of Turkic Culture (TURKSOY), was held in Istanbul. Delegations from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Turkey took part in the event. This was reported by the online publication Turkmenportal. The Turkmen side was represented by the Deputy Head of the Türkmenfilm Association named after Oguzhan Sahysalyh Bayramov and the Head of the international relations department of the State Committee for Television, Radio Broadcasting and Cinematography Annageldi Atanazarov. The meeting was devoted to the implementation of the decisions of the 40th meeting of the Permanent Council of TURKSOY. The participants discussed key areas of cooperation, including the creation of a Turkic world film library, joint film projects, the development of national film festivals and the holding of the ‘Gorkut Ata’ festival. Following the talks, a final declaration was signed, confirming the agreements reached. The next meeting is scheduled to take place in Aktau, which this year holds the status of cultural capital of the Turkic world. It should be recalled that the first meeting of filmmakers took place in Tashkent, where it was decided to establish the TURKFILM association to coordinate joint work in the field of cinema.
The Turkmenistan Chess Federation is organising a stage of the Grand Prix series, which will take place in Turkmenabat from 22 to 27 July. This was reported by the IIC of Turkmenistan. The country's strongest chess players will take part in the competition. The tournament is part of the national Grand Prix, the results of which will determine the participants in the final stage. You can register using the QR code posted in the official announcement on the website http://www.tkmchess.com.tm.
A batch of diesel locomotives from Turkmenistan underwent major repairs and modernisation at the CRRC Ziyang plant in China. The work was completed on 18 July, after which the locomotives were prepared for shipment back to Turkmenistan for operation. This was reported by the news agency Orient. These machines, exported to the country 20 years ago, had travelled more than 2 million km and were in need of serious technical upgrades. The repair contract was signed at the end of 2024 — the first time that diesel locomotives from Turkmenistan had returned to China for modernisation. The project included the repair of key components and the installation of new safety, control and ergonomic systems. Training was also provided for Turkmen specialists and technical manuals were prepared. CRRC Ziyang's partnership with ‘Türkmendemirýollary’ has been ongoing since 2004. During this time, 294 locomotives have been delivered, serving more than 98% of the country's freight traffic. The project has become an example of successful cooperation within the framework of the ‘Belt and Road Initiative’.
From 12 to 14 November, Ashgabat will host the International Exhibition and Conference ‘Turkmentel – 2025’, dedicated to telecommunications, telemetry and digital technologies. This was reported by the press service of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan. The event will discuss the development of cooperation in the fields of digital transformation, cybersecurity, satellite communications and state digital development strategy. The venue is the building of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan. The exhibition will be attended by government agencies, foreign companies and the business community of Turkmenistan. The Turkish company Net Fuar Organizasyon Ltd.Sti. is a partner of the event. The exhibition will present modern solutions for satellite broadcasting, cellular communications, high-speed data transmission and international Internet services.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) is actively promoting the development of aquaculture in Turkmenistan, according to the news agency Orient. As part of a technical cooperation programme, two seminars were held in Ashgabat to train local farmers and veterinarians on aquatic animal health and fish farm design. The FAO uses a comprehensive approach, combining feeding, veterinary care and sound farm design, which contributes to increased efficiency, reduced costs and enhanced food security. On 16 July, a seminar on disease prevention in fish was held, where participants gained knowledge on diagnosis and risk management. On 17 July, a workshop on aquaculture systems design was held, covering everything from ponds and tanks to hatcheries, including biosecurity and production management. These initiatives lay the foundation for the sustainable development of the sector, contributing to economic growth and improved livelihoods in rural areas.
From 26 to 27 November, Ashgabat will host an International Conference and Exhibition entitled ‘International Transport Corridors: Interconnection and Development – 2025’ at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan. This was reported by the press service of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan. Participants will discuss the development of international transport and transit corridors, the digitalisation of logistics, environmentally friendly technologies and the role of education in the industry. The event will include a specialised exhibition, ‘Transport and Logistics,’ which will showcase the latest achievements in the field of road, sea, air and rail transport. The event is organised by the Transport and Communications Agency under the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan and Net Fuar Organizasyon Ltd.Sti.