On 17 June, Japanese Ambassador to Turkmenistan Hiroshi Sasaki visited the Yagshygeldi Kakayev International University of Oil and Gas. This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan. During the visit, the diplomat presented the university with several dozen books in English on Japanese culture and society, donated by the Nippon Foundation. The ambassador also toured the library and reading rooms of the educational institution, visited the Geology Museum and familiarised himself with the work of the DRILL SIM-5000 drilling laboratory at the Faculty of Oil and Gas. At the end of his visit, Hiroshi Sasaki expressed his gratitude for the hospitality and the opportunity to visit the university.
A three-day international chess tournament for children aged 8, 10 and 12 has come to an end in the capital of Turkmenistan. The competition was attended by 129 young chess players from 11 countries in Europe and Asia. This was reported by the state news agency TDH. At the end of the tournament, representatives of Turkmenistan took first place in the overall medal standings in rapid and blitz chess, winning 19 awards. Second place went to the team from Uzbekistan, and third place to Kazakhstan. Turkmen athletes distinguished themselves with their high level of training, winning prizes in both disciplines – rapid and blitz. In particular, female chess players from Turkmenistan dominated in the 10 and 12 age categories. The winners were awarded in a solemn atmosphere. Later, the participants visited the city of Arkadag, where a ceremony was held at the ‘Märkaw’ Hotel to present gifts from the Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov Charitable Foundation for Assistance to Children in Need of Guardianship. The young chess players were presented with laptops on behalf of the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.
To date, hundreds of people, including citizens of India, China, Pakistan and other countries, have crossed the border through Turkmen checkpoints. This was reported by the press service of the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Turkmenistan. The Turkmen authorities are organising the safe transit of these people, facilitating their return to their home countries. The transit mechanism is being implemented with the support and coordination of the diplomatic missions of the countries accredited in Ashgabat.
The results of the ‘Маңғыстау мақамдары’ (‘Mangystau Makams’) International Composers' Competition, one of the most important events of the ‘Cultural Capital of the Turkic World’ programme, were announced in the city of Aktau, Kazakhstan. The Grand Prix, the highest award, was unanimously awarded to Rovshen Nepesov, Honoured Artist of Turkmenistan. This information was reported by the IIC. The competition, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the birth of People's Artist of the USSR Nurgisa Tlendiyev, was held under the slogan of preserving the musical heritage of Turkic peoples. A distinctive feature of the competition was its completely anonymous evaluation system: The jury members, including renowned musicians from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, and a representative of TÜRKSOY, selected the best works without knowing the names or countries of the authors. Alongside Rovshen Nepesov, Kazakhstani composers also received high honours. Aytkali Jayimov (Astana) won the Grand Prix award, while the top spots were taken by Sanjar Bayterekov and Yermurat Usenov (Almaty). Special awards from TÜRKSOY and the competition organisers were presented to Yermek Omirov and Nurlan Bekenov. The Turkmen composer's victory highlighted the importance of cultural exchange within the Turkic world and demonstrated the high level of Turkmenistan's musical art. The organisers noted that the competition represents an important step in supporting young artists and promoting folk art.
At the ‘Ashgabat 2025’ international chess tournament currently taking place in Ashgabat, licensed referee Sharif Nataj Khadije from Iran stated that the Turkmen capital fully meets the requirements for hosting world-class competitions. She noted the impeccable organisation, modern infrastructure and professional refereeing. This was reported by the online publication ‘Turkmenistan: Golden age’. The Head of the Russian delegation, Alexander Shkurikhin, also praised the atmosphere of the tournament, emphasising the spirit of friendship and fair play among the participants. A total of 129 young chess players from 11 countries are taking part in the competition. The first medals have already been awarded in the rapid chess discipline, where the Turkmenistan team took first place in the unofficial team standings. The competition is being held in a modern chess and draughts school built on the initiative of the Hero Arkadag. Experts are confident that the successful organisation of the tournament opens up prospects for Ashgabat to host Asian and World chess championships.
Experts from the Laboratory of Alternative Energy Sources and Measurement Instrument Technologies at the International Science and Technology Park of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan have introduced a new material for viticulture: hydrophobic sulphur concrete cages. PhD in Technical Sciences, Meretmuhammet Hudayberdiyev, has the potential to revolutionise agriculture. This information was featured in the online publication ‘Turkmenistan: The Golden age’. Traditionally, grape trellises are made of wood or metal, but these materials are susceptible to rot, corrosion, and deterioration due to moisture and chemical exposure. The new sulphur concrete composite lacks these drawbacks—it possesses high mechanical strength, resistance to aggressive environments, and, most importantly, hydrophobic properties, i.e., the ability to repel water. This technology, developed by Turkmen scientists, is opening new horizons for the agricultural sector by reducing maintenance costs and increasing production efficiency. The application of these technologies is particularly important for countries with hot climates where traditional materials wear out quickly. Experts highlight that sulphur concrete trellis serves as a successful example of the effective use of modern materials in agriculture and contributes to the sustainable development of agriculture. In the future, this technology could be adapted for other crops requiring support structures.
From 28 May to 18 June 2025, a series of training sessions for young people was held in six etraps of Turkmenistan as part of a UNDP regional project on preventing violent extremism. The events, organised by UNDP with the support of the Government of Japan, brought together more than 180 participants from the country's pilot districts. This was reported by the IIC. The training sessions aimed to raise young people's awareness of government programmes for socio-economic support and to develop skills that will help them to remain resilient in the face of modern challenges. Participants in the mentoring training sessions had the opportunity to engage in open dialogue and exchange experiences. The project is being implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Population of Turkmenistan and contributes to the creation of an inclusive environment for the active participation of young people in society.
David Pommerenke, Professor of Electrical Engineering at Graz University of Technology (Austria), paid a working visit to the Institute of Telecommunications and Informatics of Turkmenistan. The Austrian expert's visit was aimed at strengthening scientific and educational cooperation between universities in the two countries. This was reported by the online publication ‘Turkmenistan: Golden age’. During the visit, the professor gave a lecture to students on ‘Electrostatic damage’, where he shared his professional experience and answered questions from future specialists. Particular attention was paid to the protection of electronic components from static electricity. A significant part of the visit took place in the ‘Antenna and Feeder Devices’ laboratory, where an exchange of experience in the field of radio engineering systems took place. Teachers and students of the institute demonstrated to the Austrian guest their developments in the field of digital television, satellite broadcasting and radio communication systems, which were highly appreciated by the professor. The parties discussed prospects for further cooperation, emphasising their mutual interest in developing partnerships. Particular attention was paid to the importance of integrating advanced international experience into educational and scientific processes.
The 17th round of the Human Rights Dialogue between Turkmenistan and the European Union took place in Brussels on 17 June this year. The meeting, aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation in the humanitarian sphere, allowed the parties to discuss key issues of human rights protection, the rule of law and gender equality. This was reported by the IIC. The Turkmenistan delegation was led by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmet Gurbanov. The delegation included representatives of the Ministries of Education, Labour and Social Protection, Internal Affairs, Justice, the Supreme Court, the Institute of State, Law and Democracy, as well as the Ombudsman of Turkmenistan. During the dialogue, the Turkmen side presented progress in the implementation of the National Action Plan on Human Rights (2021-2025), including measures on judicial reform, protection of socio-economic rights and promotion of gender equality. Particular attention was paid to the fulfilment of international obligations, including those under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. The parties also discussed cooperation with the UN, the OSCE and other international organisations, emphasising Turkmenistan's commitment to constructive dialogue in the field of human rights. At the end of the meeting, an agreement was reached on further developing partnership in this area.
From 21 to 23 August, Ashgabat will host the ‘Kids Expo: Everything for Children’ international universal exhibition and fair. This was reported by the portal ‘Business Turkmenistan’. The forum will serve as a platform for presenting products and services aimed at children, ranging from everyday goods to solutions in the field of education and leisure. The event will be attended by companies seeking to strengthen business ties and promote their brands on the market. According to the organisers, the aim of the exhibition is to stimulate the introduction of innovative approaches in the children's goods and services industry, as well as to attract foreign investment to the national market.
Preparatory work is underway at the Turkmenabat Chemical Plant for the start of construction of a new production complex. This was reported by the news resource Turkmenportal with reference to the newspaper ‘Turkmenistan’. According to a Decree signed by the President of Turkmenistan, the construction of the facility has been entrusted to the South Korean company Daewoo Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd. The new complex will be designed to produce 350,000 tonnes of superphosphate and 100,000 tonnes of ammonium sulphate annually. Foundation work is being carried out in cooperation with Korean engineers and specialists. In addition, the Turkmenabat Chemical Plant continues to actively supply the country's agricultural sector with fertilisers this year. Since the beginning of the year, it has produced about 11,300 tonnes of mineral fertilisers, including 5,200 tonnes of nitrogen and over 6,000 tonnes of phosphorus.
On 17 June, 13 deals worth a total of US$17.399 million and 6.5 million manats were concluded at the State Commodity and Raw Materials Exchange of Turkmenistan. This was reported by the press service of the SCRMET. Among the largest participants in the foreign market were entrepreneurs from Afghanistan and the United Arab Emirates, who signed contracts with the State-owned Concerns ‘Türkmengaz’ and ‘Türkmenhimiýa’ for the supply of liquefied gas. Businessmen from Uzbekistan also purchased Portland cement of the brand ‘CEM I 32.5 H/ CEM II A-I 32.5 H’ from their Turkmen partners. On the domestic market, local entrepreneurs signed a contract with the State Concern ‘Türkmennebit’ for the purchase of road bitumen of the ‘BND 60/90’ brand. Auctions on the SCRMET continue to show activity among both foreign and local participants, confirming sustained interest in Turkmenistan's key export and production goods.