The sessions, moderated by Mr. Dmitry Shlapachenko, UN Resident Coordinator for Turkmenistan, served as a platform to exchange views on how sustainable energy development can drive progress, peace, and stability in the region and beyond. In his opening remarks, Mr. Shlapachenko emphasized that access to affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy is not only essential for economic development but also a foundation for peace and human well-being. “As the world moves toward a cleaner and more secure energy future, Sustainable Development Goal 7—ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all—remains central to achieving the entire 2030 Agenda. Turkmenistan’s continued efforts to diversify its energy mix, invest in technology and innovation, and expand regional energy cooperation clearly demonstrate its commitment to this global goal,” he said.Participants highlighted the importance of energy cooperation as a foundation for regional peace and stability, the role of research and innovation in promoting sustainability, and the need to ensure that the energy transition remains inclusive and people-centered. Youth engagement, technological advancement, and multilateral partnerships were emphasized as key drivers of progress toward a just and sustainable energy future. Mr. Dario Liguti, Director of the Sustainable Energy Division at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), underlined the importance of cross-border energy cooperation as a driver of regional stability and sustainable growth. He emphasized that regional frameworks for data sharing, infrastructure connectivity, and technological innovation can accelerate the energy transition while strengthening resilience to global market fluctuations. Mr. Liguti highlighted UNECE’s ongoing support to member states in aligning national energy policies with international sustainability commitments, noting that collaboration across borders and sectors is essential to achieving both energy security and climate neutrality in the decades ahead.Adding an economic and environmental perspective, Mr. Uladzimir Valetka, Economist at the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in Turkmenistan, delivered a data-driven analysis titled “Methane Inaction Costs Ahead of COP30.” He outlined that methane emissions from Turkmenistan’s energy sector—responsible for about 3.8 percent of global energy-related methane—represent both a climate challenge and an economic opportunity. Highlighting that up to 75 percent of emissions can be abated, more than half at no net cost, he stressed that reducing methane could generate up to USD 3 billion in direct economic benefits while avoiding climate change contribution to premature deaths and significant agricultural losses. Mr. Valetka noted progress made through the integration of the UNEP Methane Alert and Response System (MARS) and new UN Joint Programmes on methane abatement and a just energy transition, but emphasized that absolute emissions remain high. He called for urgent, measurable, and transparent action—from accelerating detection and repairs to capturing vented gas and leveraging international finance—to transform methane losses into economic and social gains. Andrew Morton, UN consultant on Energy foresight, answered the question how strategic foresight can be useful to balance economic growth with climate objectives. He shared that foresight cannot simply give a date answer, but can provide useful hints, by exploring the future in a structured manner. For example, in 2025 the ongoing transition of China to an electric state is a megatrend. The reducing cost of battery storage and the expansion of industrial heat pumps are thematic trends. With that one of the scenarios can be decreasing the volume of gas demand and its price by 2040. In closing, Mr. Shlapachenko summarized three key takeaways from the session: energy as a catalyst for peace, innovation as a driver of progress, and partnerships as the foundation for achieving SDG 7. He reaffirmed the UN’s continued support to Turkmenistan in accelerating its energy transformation and building a sustainable, inclusive future for all. The OGT-2025 Pre-Conference Sessions marked an important step in advancing dialogue on sustainable energy and strengthening collaboration between the Government of Turkmenistan and the United Nations in the lead-up to the main conference next year.

 The mission featured the visit of Dr. Fielding James Edward, Technical Officer for Respiratory Virus Surveillance at WHO/Europe, alongside Kirill Stolyarov and Daria Danilenko, WHO/Europe experts.During the visit, the experts provided advisory and technical support to national stakeholders on the implementation of integrated sentinel epidemiological surveillance of influenza and ARI. They monitored and evaluated the updated protocol of the sentinel surveillance of influenza and ARI across expanded sentinel centers, focusing on both epidemiological and virological components, as well as data collection and analysis systems.The team also reviewed the implementation of the electronic program for epidemiological surveillance of influenza and ARI, proposing amendments to align with updated national guidelines for routine and sentinel surveillance. A seminar was conducted to build national capacity on the principles of sentinel surveillance for influenza, mosaic surveillance strategies, data management for epidemiological surveillance, and virological surveillance. The experts also participated in a panel session during the scientific conference titled Healthcare, Education, and Sports in the Era of the Revival of a New Era of a Powerful State, held in honor of Medical Worker's Day in Turkmenistan.Site visits were conducted to key public health institutions in Ashgabat, including Health Home No. 10, the Direсtorate of Centers for Prevention of Infectious Diseases, the Sanitary and Epidemiological Service of the Ashgabat city, the State Sanitary and Epidemiological Service under the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan, and the Virological Reference Laboratory at the Public Health and Nutrition Center. These visits provided an opportunity to review laboratory surveillance practices for influenza and ARI and assess the operational capacity of sentinel surveillance systems.The mission concluded with a strategic discussion of key findings, technical recommendations, and proposed next steps to further strengthen Turkmenistan’s integrated surveillance system for influenza and ARI. WHO/Europe reaffirmed its commitment to ongoing collaboration in support of the country’s public health preparedness and response efforts.

 The event brought together representatives of the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan, the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan, UNICEF Turkmenistan, and the WHO Country Office in Turkmenistan. The aim was to coordinate efforts for integrating Immune Patrol into Turkmenistan’s school curriculum. It was held under the joint WHO-European Union COVID-19 response initiative for Central Asia (Phase II) and aligned with the WHO Regional Director for Europe’s #Youth4Health initiative, which promotes youth engagement in health education through digital innovation.During the roundtable, participants engaged in focused discussions on several key priorities, including the establishment of a joint working group—comprising representatives from the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan—to oversee the implementation and integration of the Immune Patrol digital tool into the national curriculum. They also discussed the development of a national action plan for a phased rollout, the launch of WHO’s educational program for children, and the pilot testing of a downloadable offline version to enhance accessibility. Additionally, plans were made to organize teacher training sessions during the current academic year to ensure the effective use of the tool in classrooms. Participants also reviewed progress to date, explored implementation strategies, and agreed on concrete next steps to expand the tool’s reach in pilot schools. Immune Patrol offers an engaging, child-friendly platform that teaches essential health concepts through interactive gameplay. As Turkmenistan continues to prioritize health education, this initiative represents a forward-looking investment in the well-being and scientific literacy of its youngest citizens. Immune Patrol provides an interactive and scientifically grounded platform that introduces children to key health concepts such as immunity, hygiene, and disease prevention. Its integration into Turkmenistan’s education system reflects a strategic commitment to strengthening health literacy from an early age. By equipping students with essential knowledge and skills, this initiative supports the development of a healthier, more informed generation prepared to make responsible decisions about their well-being.

 UN Resident Coordinator Mr. Dmitry Shlapachenko moderated the high-level plenary session titled “Investment Attractiveness of Turkmenistan as a Factor of Strategic Efficiency,” facilitating dialogue among key stakeholders. In his formal statement delivered during the Forum, Mr. Shlapachenko emphasized Turkmenistan’s potential as a resilient and forward-looking investment destination. He highlighted the importance of WTO accession, trade facilitation, and regional integration through the UN Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA), noting: “Multilateral rules at the core, with sub-regional execution, is how we turn geography into opportunity.” UN RCO Economist Mr. Uladzimir Valetka contributed expert insights the thematic session focused on sustainable transport. In the discussion, Mr. Valetka underscored the economic and social dividends of investing transport infrastructure and benefits of increased utilization of the cargo transit potential, including for jobs creation, trade competitiveness, and regional value chain development. In the exchange with the World Bank, Mr. Valetka referred to the SPECA as a valuable coordinating mechanism to advance digitalization of the transport corridors in the region. The Forum also featured virtual remarks from Ms. Rabab Fatima, UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), who reiterated the UN’s support for the Awaza Programme of Action and its implementation across LLDCs. The UN Country Team expressed its continued commitment to supporting Turkmenistan’s reform agenda through evidence-based policy advice, technical cooperation, and regional dialogue platforms. Upcoming engagements include the Ashgabat SPECA Economic Forum in November and the UN Sustainable Energy for All Forum in 2026.