The President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, has proposed developing economic and technological cooperation between the countries of Central Asia and Azerbaijan. The initiative was announced on 8 October at the eighth Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of the region and Azerbaijan in the ‘Awaza’ National Tourist Zone, according to the news agency ‘Turkmenistan: Golden age’.

The Head of State identified technological development as one of the priority areas for cooperation. He proposed involving leading foreign high-tech companies in joint regional projects based at local hi-tech centres and creating favourable conditions for this.

The President of Turkmenistan also cited ‘smart cities diplomacy’ as another tool for innovative cooperation. According to Serdar Berdimuhamedov, the participation of Central Asian countries and Azerbaijan in this initiative will contribute to the region’s technological development.