At the Halk Maslahaty meeting on 23 September, the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, outlined the key directions for Turkmenistan’s future development, placing special emphasis on industrialization, energy, technological progress, workforce training, and youth support.
In his keynote address, Berdimuhamedov highlighted the implementation of new long-term programs in industry, education, youth policy, and healthcare, the launch of the Phase 4 of development at the Galkynysh gas field, which provides for the processing of an additional 10 billion cubic meters of commercial gas per year. He also emphasized the development of the electronics industry and the private sector.
Key takeaways from the National Leader’s speech at the Halk Maslahaty meeting:
A new stage of industrialization. Long-term industrial development was proposed, marked by the approval of the National Strategy for Industrial Development of Turkmenistan for 2030–2045, which focuses on economic diversification, emerging industries, import substitution, and boosting export potential.
Galkynysh gas field. The project entails creating capacities to process an additional 10 billion cubic meters of commercial gas annually. According to the National Leader, its implementation will boost gas production and exports while creating new jobs.
The oil and gas sector remains a core economic pillar. Among the priority projects, special mention was made of the Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan–India (TAPI) gas pipeline, viewed as an essential component of the country’s energy strategy and regional cooperation.
Building a domestic electronics industry. Its development is seen as a new avenue for economic diversification and import-substituting manufacturing. Key focus areas include establishing facilities for electronic equipment production, adopting advanced technologies, and training skilled specialists.
Expanding the private industrial sector. Established in 2008, the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan now unites nearly 30,000 members, with member-built enterprises operating over 1,500 industrial facilities. These produce building materials, chemical and textile products, electrical appliances, furniture, food items, and other goods.
Strengthening long-term workforce planning in education. Instructions were issued to prepare proposals for creating a national institute for educational development and to draft a five-year forecast for teacher demand across specific academic subjects.
Expanding support for science and young researchers. The National Leader proposed directing additional financial resources toward scientific and educational activities, particularly supporting research initiatives by students and young scientists.
Advancing green energy. A pilot solar power plant project is underway in Arkadag City, with plans to apply the gained experience to other cities across Turkmenistan, including Ashgabat.
Phase two of Arkadag City construction. The opening ceremony for the second phase of Arkadag City will mark a major event in 2027. Alongside residential units, this stage includes facilities for the food, industrial, pharmaceutical, and medical sectors. An educational complex featuring an intensive foreign language school, a kindergarten, and a sports facility is also under construction.
Milestones in healthcare. The National Strategy for the Development of Scientific and Medical Diplomacy in Turkmenistan covers the period 2026–2052.
Foreign policy centered on neutrality, peace, and UN cooperation. The address highlighted Turkmenistan’s involvement in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, its climate agenda, the advancement of preventive diplomacy, and the promotion of the “Dialogue is the Guarantee of Peace” principle.
Focus on Akhal-Teke horse breeding and equestrian sports. In the coming days, as part of the 35th Independence Anniversary celebrations, the new 1,200-seat Akhal-Teke Equestrian Complex of the President of Turkmenistan is scheduled to open.
The address by Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov at the Halk Maslahaty session
Dear participants of the Halk Maslahaty meeting!
Dear compatriots!
In just a few days, we will celebrate the 35th anniversary of the sacred independence of our sovereign Fatherland at a high level and in a grand manner. This momentous date enhances the international prestige, glory, and national dignity of our independent country, and inspires each of us to achieve great goals.
From the first years of independence, we clearly defined the path for the country’s comprehensive development and its priority objectives. We set ambitious goals for transforming our homeland into a powerful state in socio-economic and industrial terms.
The years of independence were filled with significant political, economic, and cultural events of historical significance, which clearly demonstrated the progressive development of our country along the path of progress, the steady growth of its international authority, and the full support of the international community for its foreign and domestic policies.
Our great goal is to protect and strengthen the country’s independence. To achieve this, every citizen works diligently in the name of the state, the people, independence, and permanent neutrality.
In this matter, the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan acts as a powerful driving force, uniting people to achieve lofty goals!
Dear participants of the meeting!
During the years of independence, effective work has been carried out on the socio-economic development of the Motherland, a new system of state, executive and administrative authorities has been formed, and the country’s constitutional system has been improved.
Along with the realization of the colossal resource potential, a great deal of work has been done to preserve and enhance national identity and popularize it in the world.
National programs for the country’s socioeconomic development, ensuring a peaceful, prosperous, and happy life for our compatriots, have been successfully implemented. Modern residential buildings, higher and secondary educational institutions, kindergartens, and health centers have been built, and new districts, towns, and villages have been established.
Currently, in accordance with the Program “Revival of a New Era of a Powerful State: National Program for Socio-Economic Development of Turkmenistan in 2022–2052” and the “National Program of the President of Turkmenistan for the Transformation of Social and Living Conditions of the Population of Villages, Towns, Etrap Cities, and Etrap Centers for the Period up to 2028” in the new edition, tasks aimed at improving the standard of living of the people, and the economic, social, and cultural development of the regions are being successfully implemented.
Dear compatriots!
Peacefulness, good neighborliness, and respect for all states and peoples are defined as the main principles of foreign policy.
Situated at the heart of the Great Silk Road, at the intersection of Asia and Europe, our country, through its balanced foreign policy, has accumulated extensive experience in establishing friendly relations with countries around the world and authoritative international organizations.
Turkmenistan’s geopolitical and geoeconomic potential is aimed at ensuring a peaceful life.
On the international stage, the United Nations is a high-level strategic partner for our independent, permanently neutral country. Significant political events included the three-time recognition of Turkmenistan’s permanent neutrality by the Community of Nations and the opening of the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia in Ashgabat. Particularly proud are events such as the establishment of the Turkmenistan-United Nations Strategic Advisory Council and the establishment of International Neutrality Day. At the same time, our philosophy of “Dialogue is the Guarantee of Peace,” based on universal human values, has acquired significant significance in the global political arena.
I believe that all of this is an expression of the highest appreciation and enormous trust placed by the international community in our values such as neutrality, peacefulness, friendliness and humanism.
Dear people!
Turkmenistan is successfully implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda launched by the United Nations. Our country is one of the first countries to incorporate important global SDG targets and indicators into national development strategies and programs.
The country is implementing effective measures to protect the environment and ensure access to high-quality education and healthcare systems.
The ongoing work to combat climate change, transition to a green economy, and other global issues establishes Turkmenistan as a politically and economically stable and developing country in the world.
Dear participants of the meeting!
The milestones achieved in the development of the national economy are primarily due to the great independence that is the foundation of our statehood.
From the first years of sovereign development, large-scale initiatives were launched to transform Turkmenistan into a global center of industry, transport, and logistics.
During this period, the national investment strategy was effectively implemented, and new industries and modern industrial enterprises were created in Turkmenistan.
The country has a multi-sector economy, including such important areas as electric power, oil and gas, metallurgy, chemical industry, construction, electronics, textile, food and pharmaceutical industries.
Industrial development in Turkmenistan is being implemented within the framework of the national economic diversification strategy, the main focus of which is increasing the production of import-substituting products and export potential.
In this regard, state programs for the socio-economic development of the country are being successfully implemented.
Today, large industrial facilities play a key role in increasing Turkmenistan’s economic power, ultimately improving the quality of life of our citizens.
The products manufactured by the Ahal Gasoline to Gasoline Plant, the Marykarbamid and Garabogazkarbamid plants, the Balkan, Lebap and Bäherden cement plants, the Türkmendemirönümleri State Enterprise, and the Türkmen aýna önümleri [Turkmen Glass Products] enterprise make a huge contribution to the country’s industrialization strategy and import-substituting production.
The structure of the agricultural sector has undergone a radical transformation. With the development of the domestic agro-industrial complex, great importance is attached to the cultivation of cotton and grain, which contributes to the country’s food security.
The energy industry is also developing rapidly. New gas turbine power plants are being built, and innovative solar and wind farm projects are being successfully implemented.
Another promising and dynamically developing sector is the chemical industry. The country’s natural resources allow for the production of all types of mineral fertilizers. Chemical plants produce high-quality mineral fertilizers, technical iodine, sulfates, and other in-demand products.
Dear people!
The domestic oil and gas industry is also steadily developing. New oil and gas fields are being discovered and commissioned. Modern oil refineries are being built, and international projects are being implemented.
The “Program for the Development of the Oil and Gas Industry of Turkmenistan through 2030” is a strategy aimed at modernizing the fuel and energy complex, increasing oil and gas production, volumes, and expanding export routes to international energy markets.
One of the major projects underway is the construction of the Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan–India gas pipeline. This transnational project is a significant step in implementing the country’s energy strategy and is aimed at the sustainable development of the entire region and the well-being of fraternal peoples.
The Galkynysh gas field, with its abundant natural gas reserves, is a vital component of the country’s natural resource base. The phased development of this enormous field will ensure reliable and stable supplies of natural gas to domestic and international markets.
This year, the fourth phase of development at the Galkynysh gas field was launched. This project involves the construction of facilities that will enable the processing of an additional 10 billion cubic meters of marketable gas per year. The completion of this phase, along with the creation of new jobs, will contribute to increased gas production, enhance the country’s export potential, and significantly strengthen its position in the international energy market.
Dear participants of the meeting!
Founded in 2008, the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan has grown over the past 18 years into a major public organization uniting approximately 30,000 members. Today, over 1,500 industrial enterprises, built by Union members, operate. These include numerous small and medium-sized factories producing plastics, metal products, construction materials, various chemicals, carpets, electrical appliances, household goods, furniture, and food products.
New areas are opening up in the country’s industrial structure. These include the electronics industry, a new innovative sector that is rapidly developing in Turkmenistan to diversify the national economy and produce import-substituting products.
Today, it is impossible to imagine any sector of the economy without the use of high technology. The creation of a national electronics industry contributes to the further development of the country’s national economic complex.
The most important task of our time is the creation and development of an electronics industry equipped with innovative, advanced technologies, as well as the training of highly qualified specialists in this field.
Thanks to the efforts of the President of Turkmenistan, extensive work is currently underway in the country to establish enterprises manufacturing electronic equipment. Through public-private partnerships, the domestic electronics industry produces a variety of high-quality products.
Industry and construction have also experienced significant development. Modern industrial plants are being built across the country, and existing ones are being modernized. This complex provides building materials and other resources necessary for the large-scale construction projects underway in all regions of the country.
Initiatives aimed at industrializing the national economic complex give great impetus to the rapid development of the industrial sector.
In this context, I believe that one of the important tasks is the adoption of a long-term Strategy for the further industrial development of the country and, thus, the implementation of a new stage of industrialization of Turkmenistan.
Dear people!
Young people are making a significant contribution to the successes achieved in the era of the Revival of a new, powerful state. It has become a good tradition to award young Turkmen citizens who have won prizes at prestigious subject competitions, Olympiads, and world-class sporting events, as well as their mentors and coaches.
The state creates all the conditions for raising young people as well-rounded individuals and ensuring their happy life.
I spoke about this in detail at a general lesson I held with education workers, students, and schoolchildren at the Ruhyýet Palace in Arkadag.
To ensure broad youth participation in the socioeconomic, political, and cultural life of the state and society, I consider it important to adopt a State Program on State Youth Policy of Turkmenistan until 2031. I am confident that this will contribute to the successful implementation of the state youth policy, the identification of talented young Turkmen citizens, and the development of an educated generation!
Dear participants of the meeting!
Currently, modern educational institutions equipped with the latest technologies are being built in all cities and villages of the country.
The second phase of development in the town of Arkadag involves the construction of a complex of facilities, including a secondary school specializing in foreign language teaching, a kindergarten, and a sports facility.
This complex of facilities will become an educational and methodological center focused on training modern youth, which will open up broad opportunities for young Turkmen citizens to receive a good education and their physical development.
To develop the potential of young citizens, this secondary school and kindergarten, which are being built with funds from the Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov Charitable Foundation for Assistance to Children in Need of Care, will offer instruction in various subjects.
In addition, creating a room with all the necessary conditions for parents will be very effective in the educational and upbringing process.
In line with international best practices, educational and developmental activities at this modern school and kindergarten will be led by highly qualified, professionally trained educators.
In this regard, it is necessary to prepare proposals for the creation of a national institute for the development of the national education system of Turkmenistan and to carry out appropriate work in this area.
Furthermore, in order to ensure the stable employment of highly qualified teaching staff in our country, special attention must be paid to the preparation of a five-year forecast of demand for teachers by academic discipline.
As a result, graduates of pedagogical educational institutions will make a worthy contribution to the development of the national education system, using the knowledge and skills they have acquired in secondary schools and kindergartens.
Dear people!
At present, scientific achievements are being widely introduced into production in our country.
Higher education institutions and their affiliated research centers are actively advancing key priority areas of science.
Commercialized innovations have generated additional financial resources, creating new opportunities to strengthen the technical infrastructure and scientific capacity of universities.
In this context, these funds should be directed toward academic and research activities, with a primary focus on supporting the scientific initiatives of students and young researchers.
Dear participants of the meeting!
Turkmenistan is a state that, on a constitutional basis, guarantees social protection to every person.
Since the first years of independence, social policy has been primarily aimed at citizens in need of support and protection in the workplace. Extensive assistance is provided to large families, orphans, and veterans.
This policy, aimed at ensuring decent living conditions for every citizen, guarantees the unity of society and the political and social stability of the country.
The Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov Charitable Foundation for Assistance to Children in Need of Care conducts large-scale social support activities for the younger generation, assists in restoring the health of children in care, and creates favorable conditions for their happy lives.
All this is clear evidence that our ancient humane traditions continue with dignity today, filled with new content.
Dear people!
The socio-economic potential of each state and the health of each society are closely linked, first of all, to human health and harmonious physical and spiritual development.
In this regard, the country attaches particular importance to the development of the domestic healthcare system, the construction of modern health and rehabilitation centers and sanatoriums, as well as a radical improvement in the health of the people.
Effective activities are carried out in cooperation with world-renowned medical centers.
Arkadag Medisina Klasteri Management, a company located in Arkadag, carries out important work in the production of high-quality medical and consumer products based on local raw materials.
The “National Strategy for the Development of Scientific and Medical Diplomacy in Turkmenistan for 2026–2052,” aimed at ensuring the well-being of the people, opens new horizons for further improvement of the national healthcare system. We will continue our work in this direction.
Dear participants of the meeting!
The Akhal-Teke horse is our pride and glory. As the proverbs say: “If I have a horse, I have wings,” “Where a horse prances, expect a celebration,” “A horse is a symbol of prosperity,” “It’s not the horse that gallops, but happiness.” Our people associate all good deeds with the horse.
The Akhal-Teke horse, recognized as the standard of beauty and perfection, became the main symbol of the rapid development of the Fatherland in the Renaissance era of a new, powerful state.
Programme activities are being carried out to further increase the glory of our “heavenly” horses, known throughout the world as “heavenly”, “winged” steeds.
A program of horse breeding and equestrian events has been developed for 2026, the year declared “Independent, Neutral Turkmenistan – the Homeland of Purposeful Heavenly Horses.” An Organizing Committee has been established to ensure these events are held at a high level.
A significant event was the presentation of international certificates to the Galkynysh National Equestrian Games Group at the International Circus Arts Festival, which took place this year in Monte Carlo.
Our young people involved in equestrian sports have participated in international conferences, championships, and beauty contests dedicated to racehorses and horse breeding held in a number of countries, and have demonstrated a high level of professionalism.
An event of particular significance in enhancing the international fame and popularity of Akhal-Teke horses was the World Equestrian Championship and Akhal-Teke Horse Beauty Contest, held in the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
In a few days, during the celebration of the 35th anniversary of the sacred independence, the Akhal-Teke Equestrian Complex of the President of Turkmenistan, with 1,200 seats, will be ceremoniously opened.
In the year “Independent neutral Turkmenistan – the homeland of purposeful heavenly horses” all this increased the fame of the world-famous “paradise” Akhal-Teke horses.
Dear participants of the meeting!
The city of Arkadag, located at the foot of the Kopetdag Mountains, is a major urban development project that showcases our country’s remarkable achievements to the world.
Innovative technologies and digital system capabilities implemented in the city are raising the standard of living of citizens.
A pilot solar power plant project is currently being implemented in the country’s first “smart” city. In the future, we will widely apply our experience in this field to other cities across the country, including Ashgabat.
Today, in the second phase of construction of the city of Arkadag, alongside residential buildings, enterprises for the production of food products, industrial, pharmaceutical and medical products are being built.
The opening ceremony for the second phase of construction of the city of Arkadag will be a significant event in 2027. Preparations for this celebration must begin today. An organizing committee must be established to ensure a high-level opening ceremony for the second phase of the city of Arkadag, and consistent work must be carried out based on specific plans.
Dear compatriots!
Esteemed participants of the Halk Maslahaty meeting!
Patriotism is a sacred calling. It is the solemn duty of every citizen to cherish the Fatherland above life itself, to guard it like the apple of their eye, and to defend every inch of its soil.
Love for the Motherland is an enduring sentiment that resides in the heart of every individual. Our native land is a sanctuary of happiness and prosperity—an ancient, sacred soil built upon the unity and high moral ideals inherited from our ancestors.
In a sovereign state, the individual and their well-being represent the highest value. Our paramount objective remains ensuring a prosperous, dignified life for every citizen. The unity and solidarity of our people form the unshakable bedrock of a powerful nation.
Guided by the core motto, “The State is for the Person!” and the President’s guiding principle—”The Motherland is a Motherland only with its people; a state is a state only with its people!”—our national policy remains fully dedicated to guaranteeing the happiness and prosperity of our nation.
We will successfully continue this policy in the future!!!
Dear compatriots!
In conclusion of my speech, I wish you and your fellow people good health, happiness and prosperity!!! ///nCa, 24 September 2026