Turkmenistan has put into operation a new dry cargo vessel, Gadamly. This historic event is expected to strengthen Turkmenistan’s position in the Caspian Sea region as an important transport and transit corridor. Built at the Balkan Shipyard in Turkmenbashi city in collaboration with Koryo Shipbuilding Industry Technology (Republic of Korea), Gadamly is designed for the
Content creators and information professionals took part in a series of training workshops which were held in Ashgabat from 29 April to 6 May. Each workshop attracted around 30 participants, including content creators, media professionals, educators, and students, all interested in enhancing creative ideas, raising professional standards, and promoting the responsible use of modern digital
An informal summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) will be hosted by Kazakhstan on 15 May 2026 in Turkistan, the spiritual capital of the Turkic World, under the theme “Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development.” The summit will bring together the heads of state and government of
The collapse of the Soviet Union is rarely seen as a deliberate project. Rather, it is viewed as a crisis or a chain of events that spiralled out of control. Yet, when the early years of independence across the post-Soviet space are examined through the lens of sustainable development, it becomes clear that this period
Central Asia is a region prone to disasters, and earthquakes remain among its greatest risks. In April 1966, Tashkent was struck by a devastating earthquake that left more than 300,000 people displaced. Although the city was rebuilt and transformed into the modern Tashkent we know today, the remnants of that tragedy continue to endure. Other
On 23 April, high-level representatives of the European Union, its EU Member States, the Central Asian countries and international financial institutions convened in Astana, Kazakhstan, for the Team Europe Initiative (TEI) High-Level Meeting on Water, Energy and Climate Change in Central Asia, the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Kazakhstan reported. Participants
On April 22, Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev took part in a meeting of the Council of the Heads of Founder States of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS). The event, chaired by President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, was also attended by President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov, President of Tajikistan Emomali
At the Regional Environmental Summit (RES) in Astana on April 22, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Kazakhstan, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Kazakhstan and the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership, convened a high-level plenary session titled “Central Asia Initiative – Harmony with Nature for Sustainable Development of the Region,”
As part of the joint project of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan, implemented with the financial support of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) “Conservation and Sustainable Management of Land Resources and High Nature Value Ecosystems in the Aral Sea Basin for Multiple Benefits,” a ceremony was held earlier
The Delegation of the European Union to Turkmenistan, in partnership with the Embassy of France in Turkmenistan, the French Institute in Turkmenistan, and the Embassy of Ukraine in Turkmenistan, opened the exhibition “The Worst Anniversary Ever” at the Nadar Gallery of the French Institute in Turkmenistan on 13 April. The exhibition will remain open to
In recent years, investors from the Eurasian region have shown growing interest in Afghanistan with a focus on transport and energy infrastructure, as the country has the potential to become an important link between Central and South Asia. Afghanistan remains a net importer of investment from Eurasian countries, with the total volume of FDI stock from these
The EU-Turkmenistan Business Forum, “New Horizons for Connectivity, Investment and Sustainable Growth,” took place on 26 March in Ashgabat. Bringing together more than 200 participants, the Forum convened for the first time high-level policymakers, business leaders from Turkmenistan and the European Union, as well as representatives of international financial institutions and international organisations, to explore
The energy sector is a strategic focus of Turkmen-Chinese cooperation, the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said in an interview with the Chinese television channel CGTN during his visit to China this month. The text of the interview was published by the Turkmen Foreign Ministry.
The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) has proposed a balanced “middle path” strategy that could provide a solid foundation for the modernization of Central Asia’s power sector. This approach would ensure reliable and affordable energy supply, significantly reduce the carbon footprint, and enable a smooth energy transition that benefits the region’s economy and meets climate commitments.
The European Union and the International alliance for the protection of heritage (ALIPH) have launched 29 cultural heritage projects across Central Asia to safeguard endangered tangible and intangible heritage from the impact of climate change, following a highly successful Call for Projects that elicited 233 applications. This initiative is co-funded for a total of EUR 1.5 million, wherein
On March 5 and 6, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the Ministry of Communications of Turkmenistan, held a seminar entitled “National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy: Shaping Joint Solutions for Sustainable Development.” The event was organized within the framework of the regional initiative supporting the development of a National AI Strategy and was facilitated by international experts from
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Secretariat of the Framework (Tehran) Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea, and the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan, recently held an inception seminar to mark the launch of the Regional Project “Addressing
Afghanistan’s trade with Central Asian countries increased significantly in 2025 compared to 2024, with imports rising by 43% and exports growing by 77%, TOLOnews reported citing statistics from the Afghan Ministry of Industry and Commerce. Afghanistan’s imports increased from $1.679 billion in 2024 to $2.399 billion in 2025, while exports rose from $122 million to
On February 26, London hosted a meeting of foreign ministers of five Central Asian countries and the United Kingdom under the “Central Asia + UK” (CA5+UK) framework. The ministers discussed a wide range of bilateral and regional issues, including opportunities for economic growth, expanding trade and investment cooperation, and joint efforts to strengthen regional connectivity
The European Union Delegation to Turkmenistan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan last week held a joint press briefing to review the results of EU-Turkmenistan cooperation in 2025 and to outline strategic priorities for 2026. EU Ambassador to Turkmenistan, Beata Peksa, underlined that 2025 delivered tangible results across priority sectors including connectivity, green