News
Ashgabat hosts a meeting of the DARYA program on vocational skills development
14.10.2026The fifth meeting of the High-Level Group of the DARYA Regional Programme opened in Ashgabat on 13 October 2026, focusing on skills development for the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor. This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan. Participants discussed training qualified professionals for the transport and logistics sector, improving vocational education and strengthening cooperation among Central Asian countries. Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister of Turkmenistan M. Byashimova noted that improving transport connectivity helps expand regional and international cooperation. She emphasized that efficient transport corridors require both modern infrastructure and a skilled workforce. Particular attention was paid to human capital development, aligning vocational education with labour market needs and enhancing the competitiveness of the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor. The agenda also covered the exchange of experience between Central Asian countries and the European Union, cooperation among government bodies, educational institutions and the private sector, and future priorities for regional cooperation. The meeting is ongoing.
The International exhibition in Ashgabat Expanded Industry Cooperation
13.10.2026The international exhibition in Ashgabat brought together representatives of the healthcare, education and sports sectors from Turkmenistan and foreign countries. The event took place on October 10–12, 2026, at the Exhibition Center of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan as part of the exhibition and scientific conference “Healthcare, Education and Sports in the Era of the Revival of a New Epoch of a Powerful State”. This was reported by the IIC of Turkmenistan. Representatives of international organizations and foreign educational institutions from Russia, Belarus, China, Georgia, the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, the USA, Malaysia, Turkey and other countries participated in the exhibition. Participants presented educational programs, specialist training fields and opportunities to study abroad. The business program included negotiations in B2B and B2G formats, expert discussions, presentations of modern technologies and master classes. Participants exchanged experience, discussed industry issues and established professional contacts. The event was co-organized by TurkmenExpo. The exhibition was aimed at developing international cooperation in the fields of healthcare, education and sports.
More than 1,300 delegates from 65 countries have registered for OGT 2026
13.10.2026More than 1,300 delegates from 65 countries have registered for the 31st International Conference and Exhibition “Oil and Gas of Turkmenistan” (OGT 2026). The event will take place on October 21–23 at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan. Due to strong interest, the registration deadline has been extended to October 15. This was reported by Turkmenportal. In 2025, the event brought together more than 1,400 participants from over 70 countries. One of the key highlights of OGT 2026 will be the opening of Malaysia’s first national pavilion, organized in cooperation with the Malaysia Petroleum Resources Corporation (MPRC). The delegation is expected to be led by Haji Akmal Nasrullah bin Mohd Nasir. More than 20 Malaysian companies will showcase solutions in oil and gas services, offshore engineering, industrial equipment and digital technologies. A roundtable on energy cooperation between Malaysia and Turkmenistan is also under consideration, with representatives of the state concerns Turkmengas and Turkmennebit expected to participate. The forum will be held under the slogan “Energy. Partnership. Progress.” Key topics will include the development of the Galkynysh gas field, implementation of the Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan–India (TAPI) gas pipeline project, and investment opportunities in Turkmenistan’s sector of the Caspian Sea. The programme will feature ministerial-level meetings, an international exhibition and business negotiations in B2B and B2G formats, bringing together energy companies, investors, technology providers and relevant organizations. Registration for in-person participation is open until October 15, 2026, via the official conference website.
Turkmenistan and China will expand business ties in Shanghai
13.10.2026The Turkmen-Chinese Business Forum will be held in Shanghai on November 6–7, 2026, as part of the 9th China International Import Expo (CIIE). Turkmen entrepreneurs are invited to participate, according to the online publication “Business Turkmenistan”. The forum is organized by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan with the support of TMT Consulting Group. The program will include thematic sessions, presentations on promising areas of cooperation, business negotiations, and visits to the offices and industrial facilities of Chinese companies. Participants will discuss bilateral trade, industrial cooperation, agriculture and food processing, digitalization, transport and logistics, transit potential, and humanitarian cooperation. The forum will bring together representatives of government agencies and businesses from Turkmenistan and China. Meetings are planned in G2G (government-to-government), B2G (business-to-government), and B2B (business-to-business) formats.
Turkmenistan and Iran will begin construction of the Gumdag–Etrek highway
13.10.2026Iranian Minister of Transport and Urban Development and Co-Chair of the Iranian-Turkmen Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation Farzaneh Sadegh announced an agreement to begin construction of the Gumdag–Etrek highway within the next two months. This was reported by Orient. The project envisages the construction of a road on the territory of Turkmenistan with the participation of an Iranian contractor. The new highway will simplify freight transportation and increase the capacity of cross-border routes. During the visit to Turkmenistan, the Iranian delegation held talks in Avaza, discussing the implementation of previously reached agreements. At a meeting with the Chairwoman of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan, Dunyagozel Gulmanova, they discussed interparliamentary cooperation, energy, and the export of engineering and technical services. The parties also discussed the development of rail and road transport. Farzaneh Sadegh noted the progress in the operation of border terminals and Turkmenistan's role in the transit of goods between Eurasian countries. A separate topic was trilateral cooperation between Turkmenistan, Iran and Azerbaijan with Russia in the field of international transport.
PETRONAS plans to introduce new technologies in Turkmenistan's energy sector
13.10.2026Malaysia’s PETRONAS has been operating in Turkmenistan since 1996, contributing to the development of hydrocarbon resources in the Caspian Sea. Over the past 30 years, the company has established production infrastructure that includes offshore platforms, a gas processing plant and a coastal terminal in Kiyanly, according to the news agency “Turkmenistan: Golden Age”. PETRONAS’s future plans focus on improving the efficiency of existing facilities, introducing digital technologies, reducing emissions and training local professionals. One of the company’s key assets is Block I in Turkmenistan’s sector of the Caspian Sea. The main priorities include ensuring safe production, upgrading equipment, optimising operating costs and improving infrastructure reliability. In 2024, PETRONAS unveiled a five-year technology roadmap aimed at introducing advanced solutions into its production processes. Key priorities include digitalisation, remote inspections and improvements to the maintenance of offshore facilities. The company also plans to improve energy efficiency across its operations and develop environmental monitoring systems, with a particular focus on reducing emissions. Training local specialists remains another important area of activity. According to PETRONAS, Turkmen citizens account for around 90% of the workforce at PC(T)SB. More than 1,100 local specialists have completed professional training, while 188 students have received educational support at the PETRONAS University of Technology. Another 235 technicians and specialists have undergone training at INSTEP. In addition to its production projects, the company implements educational and community initiatives. These include STEM education programmes, English-language and information technology training, as well as environmental projects. PETRONAS’s future cooperation with Turkmenistan will focus on modernising existing facilities, introducing new technologies and developing local talent. The company also sees opportunities to expand its partnership in the country’s energy sector.
Turkmenistan is developing international partnership in the oil and gas sector
13.10.2026From October 21 to 23, the 31st International Conference and Exhibition «Oil and Gas of Turkmenistan — OGT 2026» will take place in Ashgabat. Forum participants will discuss energy security, the development of the gas industry, international cooperation and attracting investment, reports AsmanNews. One of the key areas for the industry's development remains the development of the Galkynysh gas field. The program provides for seven stages, the implementation of which will make it possible to increase annual production to almost 200 billion cubic meters of gas. At the first stage, three gas processing plants with a total capacity of 30 billion cubic meters per year were commissioned. The fourth phase of field development began on 17 April 2026. The project provides for the construction of a commercial gas treatment facility with a capacity of 10 billion cubic meters per year. CNPC Amudarya Petroleum Company Ltd. is the general contractor. It is expected that implementation of the project will create more than a thousand jobs. Turkmenistan is also continuing to develop its export infrastructure. Natural gas supplies to China are carried out through three lines of the Central Asia — China gas pipeline. Construction of the fourth line D is aimed at increasing the total throughput capacity of the system to 65 billion cubic meters per year. Another promising project is the Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan–India (TAPI) gas pipeline, which is designed to transport 33 billion cubic metres of natural gas annually. Construction is continuing on the 153-kilometre Serhetabat–Herat section in Afghanistan. At the same time, Turkmenistan is exploring opportunities to expand gas supplies to markets in the Middle East and Europe while continuing to develop the hydrocarbon resources of the Caspian Sea. Particular attention is being paid to reducing the environmental impact of the oil and gas industry. Turkmenistan has joined the Global Methane Pledge and is considering measures to reduce emissions, improve the efficiency of associated gas utilization and minimize losses during transportation. The OGT 2026 conference will serve as a platform for discussing the prospects of the energy sector, the adoption of modern technologies and the expansion of international investment cooperation.
FC «Arkadag» will play against «Al-Jazira» in the second round of the AFC-2 Champions League
13.10.2026Football club “Arkadag” will play an away match against the Emirati club “Al Jazira” on October 14 in the second round of the group stage of the 2026/27 AFC Champions League Two season. The match will take place in Abu Dhabi at Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium and will kick off at 21:00 Ashgabat time, reports Turkmenportal. In the opening round, “Arkadag” defeated Bahrain’s “Al-Muharraq” 1:0 on home soil. The winning goal was scored in the 52nd minute by Mekan Saparov, who headed in a corner kick. In the other Group B match, “Al Jazira” and Iran’s “Gol Gohar” played out a 0:0 draw. After the first round, the Turkmen club leads the group with three points. “Al Jazira” and “Gol Gohar” have one point each, while “Al-Muharraq” has yet to earn any points. “Arkadag” arrived in the United Arab Emirates on October 10 and is conducting the final stage of preparations for the upcoming match. «Al Jazira» is also performing successfully in the domestic championship. After five rounds of the UAE Pro League in the 2026/27 season, the team sits in first place with 13 points, having recorded four wins and one draw. Their goal difference stands at 11:2. «Al Ain» have the same number of points but trail on additional criteria. According to Transfermarkt, among «Al Jazira»'s most valuable players are Brazilians Malcom and Talisca, Albanian Kristjan Asllani and Nigerian Anthony Dennis. Their transfer values are estimated at 18 million, 7 million, 12 million and 8 million euros respectively. “Arkadag” became the Turkmenistan champion ahead of schedule for the fourth consecutive time. After 25 matches in the national championship, the team recorded 25 wins, earned 75 points and scored 101 goals, conceding 12. The club was founded in 2023 and represents the city of the same name. The team's head coach is Vladimir Bayramov.
The Turkmenistan national team won silver and bronze at the FIRST Global Challenge 2026
13.10.2026The Turkmenistan national team won silver and bronze medals at the international FIRST Global Challenge 2026 robotics championship, held on October 7–10 in Incheon (Republic of Korea). Teams from 185 countries took part in the competition, reports the «Turkmenistan: Golden Age» news agency. Turkmen schoolchildren won the silver award in the individual Skills Challenge category and the bronze award in the Winning Alliance team standings. The national team was coached by Murat Sakhetgulyyev, a teacher at Specialized Educational Complex No. 1 in the city of Arkadag, and Davut Gurbanov, a student at Oguz Khan Engineering and Technology University. The team included students of Ashgabat Specialized Secondary School № 97 with advanced study of foreign languages Sukhan Novbatov, Oraznyyaz Rejepov, Aznavur Cholukov, Daykhan Gurbanov and Arslan Babadzhiev. Team leader Murat Sakhetgulyyev reported that the team scored 295 points in the team standings and advanced to the semifinals. The results achieved may provide an additional incentive for young people to study modern technologies. This year, the championship was held under the motto Igniting Innovation (“Igniting Innovation”) and was dedicated to developing technological solutions to combat wildfires. The tournament is held annually, modeled on the Olympic Games, and brings together schoolchildren from different countries.
Turkmenistan participates in the 77th session of the UNHCR Executive Committee
13.10.2026On October 12, the 77th session of the Executive Committee of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees opened in Geneva (Switzerland). The Turkmen delegation is headed by A. Sazakov, the Chairman of the State Migration Service of Turkmenistan, the agency's press service reported. The session is being held in the year marking the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, which laid the foundation for the international system of protection for forcibly displaced persons. At the plenary session, A. Sazakov emphasized that the humanitarian sphere occupies an important place in Turkmenistan's state policy. The country's Constitution enshrines the recognition of the human being as the highest value of society and the state. The Chairman of the State Migration Service of Turkmenistan also highlighted the initiative of President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov to declare 2028 the International Year of Legal Rights. The initiative was put forward in 2025 at the 80th session of the UN General Assembly and is aimed at strengthening the rule of law and ensuring that states fulfill their international obligations. The presentation outlined the results of Turkmenistan's National Action Plan for the Elimination of Statelessness for 2019–2024. During this period, more than 32 thousand people acquired Turkmen citizenship, while over 5 thousand others received residence permits. In addition, on the eve of the country's 35th anniversary of independence, 146 foreign citizens were granted permission to reside in Turkmenistan in accordance with a decree issued by President Serdar Berdimuhamedov. The Turkmen side reaffirmed its readiness to expand international cooperation in the field of migration, develop the legal and regulatory framework, promote digital information exchange and participate in humanitarian programmes. A. Sazakov emphasized the importance of coordinating the efforts of states and maintaining international dialogue to ensure effective migration management. The meeting will continue until October 16.
Turkmenistan and the European Training Foundation discussed cooperation
13.10.2026On October 12, Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister of Turkmenistan Myahri Byashimova met with European Training Foundation Director Pilvi Torsti, who arrived in the country to participate in the fifth meeting of the DARYA Programme High-Level Group, which will take place from October 13 to 14. This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan. The parties discussed the modernization of vocational education, the development of practice-oriented learning, and workforce training in line with labor market needs. Particular attention was paid to the DARYA Programme, which aims to develop youth skills and improve the quality of vocational education in Central Asia. The prospects for cooperation under the European Union's Global Gateway initiative were also discussed, including the development of transport connectivity and the strengthening of regional ties. Following the meeting, the parties confirmed their interest in continuing dialogue on areas of mutual interest.
Turkmenistan is preparing specialists for accession to the WTO
13.10.2026The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Ministry of Finance and Economy of Turkmenistan are conducting a series of training events from October 5 to 14 to prepare specialists for the country's accession process to the World Trade Organization (WTO). This is reported by the IIC of Turkmenistan. The initiative is being implemented within the framework of the joint project «Platform for the Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Phase IV» with financial and expert support from the Russian Federation. The programme covers issues related to international trade, WTO membership conditions, trade and industrial policy, protection of national producers and food security. Participants also study WTO legislation and mechanisms for resolving trade disputes. On October 14, a lecture is scheduled at the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan for faculty and students on international experience in joining the WTO and integration into the global economy. More than 35 specialists and representatives of government bodies and universities are participating in the events, including the Mejlis of Turkmenistan, relevant ministries, the Central Bank and the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan. The training is aimed at developing professional competencies in international trade and expanding knowledge of the legal and institutional aspects of the WTO.
Read also
Advertising
Read us in Zen
