News
An English-language school aimed at admission to Harvard will open in Turkmenistan
22.02.2026The National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov announced the opening of a new English-language school in the city of Arkadag. The school will teach according to modern standards with the aim of preparing graduates for admission to leading US universities, including Harvard, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Columbia University, according to the state news agency TDH. Hero Arkadag announced the above information in an interview with ‘Al Arabiya’ TV channel. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted that culture, science, education and sports remain promising areas of Turkmen-American cooperation. The National Leader of the Turkmen people recalled the US State Department's Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) programme, which has been operating in Turkmenistan since 2001, as well as the fact that English is taught in all schools and four of the country's universities operate entirely in English. The Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty emphasised active cultural interaction with the United States, including cooperation with the Metropolitan Museum in New York, interest in American literature, music and cinema, concerts and archaeological expeditions. Hero Arkadag expressed his readiness to expand bilateral cooperation and represent Turkmen culture in the United States in a broader format.
Turkmenistan and the OSCE discussed regional cooperation at the parliamentary level
22.02.2026The Permanent Representative of Turkmenistan to the OSCE, Hemra Amannazarov, met with the Special Representative of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly for Central Asia, Angelos Syrigos, at the OSCE PA Winter Meeting in Vienna. This was reported by the press service of the Embassy of Turkmenistan in Austria. The parties discussed priority areas of cooperation, focusing on parliamentary dialogue, confidence-building and the development of regional ties in Central Asia. H. Amannazarov emphasised Turkmenistan's support for constructive interaction and the importance of a consensus-based approach. During the discussion, practical steps for cooperation were considered: exchange of views on regional issues, development of contacts between parliamentarians of Central Asian countries and the role of parliamentary diplomacy in ensuring stability and sustainable development. Particular attention was paid to Turkmenistan's initiative to hold regional parliamentary meetings in Ashgabat. The Ambassador expressed his gratitude for the OSCE PA's support in organising the third conference, noting its importance for dialogue and the exchange of experience. The meeting reaffirmed the commitment to deepening cooperation, strengthening regional parliamentary networks and seeking solutions through dialogue.
Projects involving the United States in Turkmenistan are approaching $45 billion
22.02.2026The volume of joint economic projects between Turkmenistan and the United States is approaching $45 billion. This was announced by the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov in an interview with ‘Al Arabiya’ TV channel, according to the state news agency TDH. Hero Arkadag noted that hundreds of projects have already been implemented or are in the process of being implemented, and cooperation is based on mutual benefit and equality. Major American companies such as ‘John Deere’, ‘General Electric’, ‘Case’, ‘Boeing’, ‘Coca-Cola’, ‘Sikorsky’ and ‘Caterpillar’ are actively working in the Turkmen market in the fields of energy, transport, agriculture, electric power, software and the food industry. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov emphasised the importance of the Turkmen-American Business Council, established in 2008, which has become an effective instrument of bilateral partnership and whose recommendations are taken into account by government agencies in both countries. The Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty also outlined plans to expand cooperation, including through economic diversification, the introduction of high-tech industries and the implementation of major infrastructure projects, as well as attracting American investment and technology to develop Turkmenistan's innovative and knowledge-intensive economy.
Golf courses are planned for construction in the cities of Arkadag and Awaza
22.02.2026Golf courses are planned to be built in the city of Arkadag and the ‘Awaza’ National Tourist Zone on the Caspian Sea coast. This was reported by the state news agency TDH following a meeting between the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and President of ‘Nicklaus Companies’ John Reese during a visit to the United States. Two courses are planned for Awaza: a training course and a tournament course, designed to host international competitions. Another golf course will be built in the city of Arkadag. The project documentation for both facilities is currently being developed. ‘Nicklaus Companies’ has implemented more than 450 golf projects in the United States and other countries over more than 50 years. In Turkmenistan, the first golf club opened in Ashgabat in 2017, and in 2022, a Memorandum was signed on the construction of a golf club in the ‘Awaza’ National Tourist Zone.
The film ‘The Composer’ has been honoured with international awards from TURKSOY
22.02.2026On 21 February, a ceremony was held at the ‘Ashgabat’ cinema in the capital to award the feature film ‘The Composer’ with special prizes from the international organisation TURKSOY. The film was created with the support of the Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov Charitable Foundation for Assistance to Children in Need of Guardianship, reports TDH. Before the ceremony began, guests viewed an exhibition in the cinema foyer telling the story of Turkmen cinema. The exhibition included technical equipment from different eras, cameras, lighting equipment, as well as a collection of national film prizes and awards. The new international awards for the film ‘The Composer’ have been added to this honourable gallery. According to the organisers, the Days of Turkmen Cinema were held in Ankara on 15–18 February 2026 with the support of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov. On 17 February, the film ‘The Composer’ was screened at the Yashar Kemal Cultural Centre, after which it received two international awards from TURKSOY: The Charitable Foundation was awarded the ‘Grand Winged Falcon’ prize, and composer Kerim Berdimuhamedov received the ‘Winged Golden Steed’ award for his musical score. During the ceremony, the importance of the comprehensive support for cinema by the National Leader of the Turkmen people and President of the country, attention to public screenings of national films, the holding of film festivals and the participation of Turkmen specialists in international events was emphasised. The film ‘The Composer’ has previously been recognised at international film festivals: in 2024, at the IV International Film Festival ‘Gorkut ata’ in Turkmenistan, the film received the Special Jury Prize and the award for ‘Best Actress’, and in 2025 in Moscow, it received the Open Eurasian Film Award ‘Diamond Butterfly’ for its artistic design.
Turkmenistan's Permanent Representative officially commenced work at the OIC
22.02.2026On 16 February, an official ceremony for the presentation of credentials took place at the headquarters of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in Jeddah. The Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Turkmenistan to Saudi Arabia, Muhammetgeldi Ayazov, officially took office as the country's Permanent Representative to this international organisation, according to the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan. OIC Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha, accepting the credentials, emphasised the special role of Turkmenistan in the Islamic world. According to him, the country's policy of permanent neutrality serves as an effective tool for strengthening peace and trust both in the region and within the Organisation. As noted by the Permanent Representative, Turkmenistan intends to expand its contribution to the activities of the OIC, primarily in the areas of culture, education and economic mutual assistance. The Organisation highly appreciated Turkmenistan's experience in the field of preventive diplomacy, which is particularly relevant in the current international situation. The Secretary General expressed his confidence that the Permanent Representative's activities would give additional impetus to the development of dialogue between Turkmenistan and the OIC, which has remained a reliable and active member of the Islamic community for many years.
The MFA of Turkmenistan hosted a meeting of the UNESCO Commission
22.02.2026On 21 February, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan hosted a regular meeting of the National Commission of Turkmenistan for UNESCO. It was chaired by Rashid Meredov, Vice-Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, according to the press service of the country's Foreign Affairs Ministry. The meeting was attended by relevant Deputy Chairmen of the Cabinet of Ministers, heads of ministries and departments, the Executive Secretary of the National Commission, as well as representatives of scientific institutions and public associations. The participants summarised the commission's work for 2025, heard reports on culture and science, and discussed the work plan for 2026. Special attention was paid to the further development of Turkmenistan's cooperation with UNESCO. It was noted that cooperation with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation remains one of the priorities of the country's foreign policy. In 2025, the commission's activities were carried out systematically within the framework of the approved plan. In the field of heritage preservation, it was reported that the ‘art of breeding Turkmen alabay’ had been included in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The preparation of multilateral nominations and work under the ‘Memory of the World’ programme continued. In the field of science and education, the city of Ashgabat was included in the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities, a ‘Digital Science’ department was established at the Technology Centre of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan as part of the UNITWIN programme, and a UNESCO club was opened at the International University for the Humanities and Development. In the field of ecology and climate change, regional initiatives continued to be implemented, international consultations were held in Ashgabat, and opportunities for including Turkmenistan's natural sites in UNESCO programmes were explored. The issue of expanding the country's participation in UNESCO's governing bodies was also considered, including the nomination of Turkmenistan to the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage for 2026-2030. The participants confirmed their intention to further strengthen cooperation with UNESCO in the fields of education, science, culture and sustainable development.
Hero Arkadag gave an interview to ‘Al Arabiya’ TV channel during his visit to the United States
22.02.2026During his visit to the United States, the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov gave an interview to ‘Al Arabiya’ TV presenter Rizwan Khan. During the conversation, the Hero Arkadag outlined the key objectives of the visit, assessed the current state of Turkmen-American relations and discussed in detail the priorities of the country's domestic and foreign policy, reports AsmanNews. Responding to a question about the objectives of the visit, the Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty noted the sustained positive dynamics of traditionally friendly cooperation between Turkmenistan and the United States. According to him, bilateral ties cover a wide range of areas, from politics and economics to science, education, culture and sports. The Turkmen side, he stressed, attaches great importance to further strengthening constructive dialogue and expanding practical cooperation. It was particularly noted that the United States was one of the first countries to recognise Turkmenistan's independence and establish diplomatic relations, consistently showing respect for the country's permanent neutrality status. Today, the United States remains an important trade and economic partner of Turkmenistan, and mutual trade turnover is showing steady growth. Considerable attention was paid in the interview to Turkmenistan's energy strategy. Hero Arkadag emphasised that the country has some of the world's largest natural gas reserves and is building its policy in this area on the basis of diversification of export routes, reliability of supplies and balance of interests of all market participants. In this context, the role of Turkmenistan's initiatives within the United Nations to promote global dialogue on energy security was noted. Separately, the Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty focused on the implementation of the ‘Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India’ (TAPI) gas pipeline project, emphasising its economic and stabilising significance for the South Asian region and the openness of the project to international partners, including American companies. Speaking about the prospects for the Trans-Caspian gas pipeline, the Hero Arkadag noted Turkmenistan's constructive approach to this issue, given the need to resolve international legal issues, including the delimitation of the Caspian Sea seabed. A separate part of the conversation was devoted to trade and economic cooperation with the United States. According to the National Leader of the Turkmen people, with the participation of American businesses, hundreds of projects with a total value of about $45 billion have been and are being implemented in Turkmenistan. Among the key partners are ‘John Deere’, ‘General Electric’, ‘CASE’, ‘Boeing’, ‘Coca-Cola’, ‘Sikorsky’ and ‘Caterpillar’. Particular emphasis was placed on the role of the Turkmen-American Business Council, which over the years has established itself as an effective platform for developing contacts between business structures in the two countries and promoting joint initiatives. Among the promising areas of cooperation are the introduction of high technologies, the development of electric power, logistics, digital services, education and training. The interview also focused on humanitarian cooperation. Hero Arkadag noted the sustained interest in Turkmenistan in learning English, which is taught in all general education schools in the country, as well as the development of English-language higher education. Plans to open a specialised English-language school in the city of Arkadag were announced. In the cultural sphere, the importance of cooperation with the Metropolitan Museum in New York was emphasised, as well as the implementation of educational and cultural programmes with the support of the US State Department, including projects of the Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation. Responding to a question about Turkmenistan's geostrategic position, the Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty noted that the country sees itself as a bridge between Europe and Asia. According to him, the status of permanent neutrality serves as the foundation for a foreign policy focused on strengthening peace, trust and regional stability. Speaking about the programme of his stay in Florida, the Hero Arkadag expressed his intention to intensify direct contacts between the region and Turkmenistan, primarily in the areas of investment, trade, sports and tourism. Particular interest was shown in the American experience in developing golf infrastructure and horse breeding. At the end of the interview, the National Leader of the Turkmen people confirmed that Turkmenistan considers the United States of America a reliable partner and is committed to further expanding mutually beneficial cooperation. Following the conversation, Rizwan Khan noted the substantive and constructive nature of the interview and thanked the Hero Arkadag for his detailed answers. The Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty, in turn, invited the presenter and the team of ‘Al Arabiya’ TV channel to take part in the celebrations of the 35th anniversary of Turkmenistan's independence and events dedicated to Ahal-Teke horses.
Hero Arkadag held a series of business meetings in the United States of America
22.02.2026The National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov paid a working visit to the United States of America. The programme included talks with business circles, visits to relevant facilities and discussions of new joint projects, reports TDH. During the visit, a meeting was held with John Reese, President of ‘Nicklaus Companies’, and members of its management. The current state and prospects of bilateral cooperation were discussed. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted Turkmenistan's priority focus on the development of high-performance sports, tourism and modern sports infrastructure. In this regard, plans to build golf courses in the city of Arkadag and the ‘Awaza’ National Tourist Zone were considered. John Reese confirmed the company's interest in preparing and implementing relevant projects. It was reported that a golf complex with two courses, including a competition and training ground, is planned to be built on the Caspian Sea coast. Separate negotiations were held with Eric Stewart, Executive Director of the Turkmenistan-US Business Council. The parties noted the steady dynamics of Turkmen-American relations and the interest of US businesses in expanding cooperation. Among the priorities are the development of investment dialogue and regular contacts between business circles. The contribution of American companies — ‘Boeing’, ‘General Electric’, ‘John Deere’, ‘CASE’ and ‘Nicklaus Companies’ – in the implementation of projects in Turkmenistan was emphasized. As part of the programme, the National Leader of the Turkmen people visited the ‘Panther’ Golf Club, where he familiarised himself with the features of the construction and operation of the courses. He also visited the ‘Sandhill Crane Golf Club’ training centre, which has been operating since 1992. Here, he was shown the digital solutions used in the training process, as well as an exhibition of textile products, including sports uniforms marked ‘Made in Turkmenistan’. The Turkmen side expressed interest in exchanging experience and holding joint tournaments. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov visited the ‘La Victoria’ equestrian complex. He familiarised himself with the conditions for keeping and training horses, the infrastructure of the complex and the possibilities for holding international show jumping competitions. The prospects for expanding cooperation between Turkmen and American specialists in the field of horse breeding and equestrian sports were noted. During the visit, meetings were held with entrepreneurs Steve Wynn, Isaac Perlmutter and William Koch, Chairman of the Board of Directors of ‘Oxbow Group’. The prospects for further development of bilateral business partnership were discussed. Negotiations were also held with Csaba Lejko, CEO and President of ‘John Deere Walldorf International GmbH’ for the CIS and Central Asia. The strategic role of agriculture in the economy of Turkmenistan and the long-term nature of cooperation with ‘John Deere’, whose equipment has been used in the country for over 30 years, were emphasised. Special attention was paid to the training of specialised personnel and the modernisation of the agro-industrial complex. After completing the programme in the United States, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov travelled to the Federal Republic of Germany, where he held a working meeting with relevant leaders. They discussed preparations for events in 2026, which has been declared the Year of ‘Independent Neutral Turkmenistan − the Homeland of Purposeful Winged Horses’. Particular attention was paid to the participation of Ahal-Teke horses in the FEI World Championship 2026 in Aachen, as well as in relevant events in the Netherlands, France and the United Kingdom. The Ambassador of Turkmenistan to Germany, B. Rejepov, reported on the state of Turkmen-German relations and the work to promote the Ahal-Teke breed. After completing his trip abroad, the National Leader of the Turkmen people returned to Ashgabat. The visit to the United States was conducted in a working format and was aimed at expanding investment, sports and agricultural cooperation between Turkmenistan and the United States of America.
Turkmenistan announces partnership plan with OSCE for 2026
22.02.2026Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan, Minister of Foreign Affairs Rashid Meredov presented the Working Plan for Partnership between Turkmenistan and the OSCE for 2026 during a government meeting on 20 February. This was reported by the state news agency TDH. The Foreign Minister stressed that one of the priorities of the country's foreign policy remains active cooperation with international organisations, including the OSCE, in the political, economic, humanitarian and environmental spheres. The plan provides for measures to strengthen peace and security, sustainable development, humanitarian cooperation and preventive diplomacy. It also includes projects on customs, border and cyber security, economic and regional cooperation, energy efficiency, environmental protection and combating climate change. Particular attention is paid to science, education, human rights protection, the development of democratic institutions, gender equality and media improvement. After hearing the report, President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov supported the plan and instructed the Minister of Foreign Affairs to implement its provisions.
Turkmenistan accelerates access to pre-school education with support from the UN and UNICEF
22.02.2026On 20 February, the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan hosted a ‘Direct Talk’ meeting on ‘Accelerating Access to Preschool Education,’ organised jointly with the Government of Turkmenistan, the United Nations and UNICEF. This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan. The event was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Finance and Economy, relevant departments, the National Institute of Education, as well as the UN Resident Coordinator in Turkmenistan Dmitry Shlapachenko, UNICEF representative Jalpa Ratna and international experts who joined online. In their speeches, they emphasised the importance of investing in early childhood development, expanding access to quality pre-school education and inter-agency cooperation. Three key areas were discussed: the results of the pilot programme to support parents, preparations for the launch of a free one-year half-day pre-school programme from September 2026, and the development of a roadmap for the phased expansion of the programme from September 2027, taking into account the effectiveness of investments and monitoring mechanisms. Following the meeting, the participants confirmed their readiness to continue working together to develop early education, support parents and expand access to quality pre-school education.
Business ties between Turkmenistan and the UAE reach a new level
22.02.2026The Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Turkmenistan to the United Arab Emirates, Bayram Bayramov, held a meeting with the Chairman of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Abdallah Sultan Al Owais, and Hamid Mohammed bin Salem, Secretary General of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of the UAE. This was reported by the online publication ‘Business Turkmenistan’. The parties discussed the prospects for the development of trade and economic ties and investment opportunities between the two countries. It was noted that improving the investment climate contributes to the growth of trade turnover and the launch of joint projects. B. Bayramov emphasised the interest of Turkmenistan's business circles in deepening cooperation with the UAE and invited Emirati businesses to invest in priority sectors of the country's economy, assuring them of his readiness to provide comprehensive support to investors.
Read also
Advertising
Read us in Zen
