Turkmenistan has joined delegations from across Europe, Asia, and beyond at the 10th International Forum on Public-Private Partnerships organized by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, which opened on April 27, 2026 in Barcelona.
The three-day gathering has brought together policymakers, international financial institutions, private investors, and development experts to examine how public-private partnerships (PPPs) can be mobilized to accelerate sustainable development, particularly in infrastructure, energy transition, and resilient urban systems.
The UNECE PPP Forum has, over the years, evolved into one of the leading global platforms for shaping standards and best practices in partnership-based development. Its focus goes beyond financing, emphasizing governance, transparency, and long-term public value.
This year’s discussions are closely aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, with a strong emphasis on climate resilience, digital transformation, and inclusive economic growth—areas that are increasingly central to emerging and transition economies.
Against this backdrop, Turkmenistan’s participation reflects a broader effort by Ashgabat to position itself more actively within international economic frameworks. According to official information, the Turkmen delegation is using the forum to present the country’s ongoing transition toward a more diversified and market-oriented economy, highlighting reforms aimed at strengthening the role of the private sector and attracting foreign investment. The emphasis on PPP mechanisms is particularly significant for Turkmenistan, where the state has traditionally played a dominant role in economic activity but is now exploring more collaborative models of development.
During the forum sessions and side meetings, Turkmen representatives are introducing a range of sectors where partnership opportunities are emerging. These include transport and logistics—an area of growing importance as the country seeks to capitalize on its geographic position between major regional markets—as well as next-generation energy projects, where global interest in cleaner and more efficient systems is reshaping investment flows.
The agro-industrial sector, digital economy initiatives, urban infrastructure, and tourism development are also being highlighted as areas where international expertise and capital could play a transformative role.
Particular attention is being drawn to the Avaza National Tourist Zone, which Turkmenistan is presenting as a flagship platform for attracting private investment. Located along the Caspian Sea, Avaza has been under development for several years as a tourism and recreation hub, and authorities now appear keen to integrate it more fully into international investment networks through PPP frameworks. By showcasing Avaza in Barcelona, the Turkmen delegation is effectively signaling its readiness to open selected sectors to structured forms of external participation.
Turkmenistan’s messaging at the forum also reflects its identity as a landlocked developing country, a factor that shapes both its economic challenges and strategic priorities.
In this context, officials are underlining the relevance of the Avaza Programme of Action for Landlocked Developing Countries 2024–2034, a global initiative aimed at improving connectivity, trade facilitation, and economic resilience for countries without direct access to seaports. Public-private partnerships are seen as a critical tool in advancing the goals of this program, particularly in infrastructure development and cross-border integration.
The Barcelona forum itself provides an opportunity for Turkmenistan not only to present its domestic agenda but also to engage with potential partners and learn from international experiences.
UNECE’s PPP model, which stresses “people-first” outcomes—ensuring that projects deliver social and environmental benefits alongside financial returns—resonates with the broader development narratives that many countries, including Turkmenistan, are now adopting. /// nCa, 28 April 2026