Awaza, Turkmenistan (TDI): The Turkmenistan Investment Forum (TIF 2025) officially opened in the scenic National Tourist Zone of Awaza, attracting over 800 delegates from 45 countries, on September 18.
The forum marks a major international effort to position Turkmenistan, and other landlocked developing countries (LLDCs), as investment destinations with vast potential in energy, infrastructure, and innovation.
The opening ceremony featured a message from President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, delivered by the Minister of Finance and Economy.
The event’s key session, titled “Investment Attractiveness of Turkmenistan as a Factor of Strategic Efficiency,” was moderated by Dmitry Shlapachenko, UN Resident Coordinator in Turkmenistan.
International speakers at the plenary included Beatriz Luz Maser Mallor, Executive Director of the World Bank, and Rabab Fatima, UN Under-Secretary-General.
Fatima praised Turkmenistan for its commitment to the development of LLDCs and introduced new UN-led initiatives designed to unlock investment for sustainable development.
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“These countries—rich in renewable resources and youthful populations—are uniquely positioned to become future hubs of innovation,” she said, announcing three key initiatives launched by her office:
An Infrastructure Investment Financing Mechanism
A Global Business Network
A Digital Investment Guide
Building on the success of the Third UN Conference on LLDCs, held in Awaza just weeks earlier, the UN and its partners have also prepared a comprehensive roadmap with 319 projects and programs under the Awaza Program of Action for the Decade 2024–2034.
In his address, Professor S. Frederick Starr called on global investors to diversify beyond oil and gas. “Turkmenistan’s transport and agriculture sectors are ripe for investment,” he said, spotlighting the TAPI pipeline and the country’s productive northern agricultural zones.
During the two-day forum, delegates explored ready-to-invest projects across sectors such as energy, logistics, construction, finance, and technology. Key priorities included public–private partnerships, green and digital transformation, and climate-resilient agriculture.
The global significance of TIF 2025 is reflected in the breadth of support from more than 50 international partners and organizations, including the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and major corporations like Daewoo E&C and John Deere.
It served not only as a platform for foreign investment but also as a symbol of Turkmenistan’s growing role in advancing sustainable, inclusive economic development across Central Asia and beyond.
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