United Nations Reinforces Commitment to Sustainable Development at Turkmenistan Investment Forum 2025

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.