Turkmenistan’s President Serdar Berdimuhamedov addressed participants of the Turkmenistan Investment Forum, which opens in Ashgabat today, presenting it as a platform for dialogue with foreign investors, international financial institutions, government bodies and the private sector.
The forum is being held under the official 2026 slogan “Independent Neutral Turkmenistan – Homeland of Purposeful Winged Steeds,” in the year Turkmenistan marks the 35th anniversary of its independence.
Stated aims
In his written message, the president said the forum is intended to support the country’s socioeconomic development with an emphasis on innovation. He named several priorities: building the industrial potential of individual sectors, improving the effectiveness of investment used to diversify the national economy, and the consistent introduction of digital technologies and green-economy principles.
According to the president, the event will also let participants exchange views on sustainable development technologies, the launch of new competitive industries and digital financial instruments. Attendees will be briefed on Turkmenistan’s macroeconomic indicators, economic potential, reform program and state-level investment strategy, and will have the opportunity to establish business contacts and discuss cooperation.
Economic positioning
The president said reforms are continuing across economic sectors and described Turkmenistan’s development course as centered on political and economic stability, directing most public finances to the social sphere, rational use of resources, and continued industrialization alongside the adoption of modern technologies. He cited the country’s geopolitical and geo-economic position in Central Asia and its natural resources as factors that create investment opportunities.
TAPI and connectivity projects
The president singled out the Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan–India (TAPI) gas pipeline as one of the largest projects in the region. He said construction of the Serhetabat–Herat section, known in Turkmenistan as “Arkadagyň ak ýoly,” is progressing smoothly. He added that work on power transmission lines and fiber-optic communication lines linking Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan is advancing at a similar pace. /// nCa, 1 October 2026