The EU – Turkmenistan- Business Forum, “New Horizons for Connectivity, Investment and Sustainable Growth”, took place on 26 March 2026 in Ashgabat. Bringing together more than 200 participants, the Forum convened for the first time high-level policymakers, business leaders from Turkmenistan and the European Union, as well as representatives of international financial institutions and international organisations, to explore new opportunities for trade, investment, and sustainable cooperation.
Organised by the European Union and the Government of Turkmenistan, in partnership with the International Trade Centre (ITC), the Forum provided a platform to advance and deepen dialogue on trade, investment and sustainable economic cooperation, supporting the objectives of the EU’s Global Gateway strategy.
The programme combined high-level exchanges with focused technical discussions across three thematic sessions:
- business climate and investment conditions,
- transport and trade connectivity,
- green transition, including renewable energy and methane emissions reduction.
The Forum enabled targeted discussions between public and private stakeholders on investment opportunities , regulatory cooperation and trade facilitation, contributing to enhanced economic ties between the European Union and Turkmenistan. Representatives of over 90 European and Turkmen companies participated in the Forum, representing diverse sectors, including logistics and transportation, energy, construction, trade, and IT. On the sidelines of the Forum, ten Turkmen companies from the agribusiness and textile sectors, supported under the EU-funded project “Turkmenistan: Enhancing Trade Resilience and Integration” implemented by ITC, showcased their products and engaged with international partners.
Dedicated networking segments enabled direct engagement through Business-to-Business (B2B) and Business-to-Government (B2G) meetings, supporting the development of new partnerships and potential investment initiatives. Overall, more than 40 bilateral meetings between EU companies and Turkmen authorities took place during the event demonstrating the strong interest in developing cooperation.
“Looking ahead, we see clear priorities for our cooperation with Turkmenistan in the framework of the EU Global Gateway initiative. These include further integration into the global trading system, improvement of the business and investment environment, and the development of efficient and reliable connectivity links between Central Asia and Europe.” – said EU Ambassador to Turkmenistan Beata Peksa.
“We are proud to have supported the organisation of this Forum, which reflects the growing cooperation between the European Union and Turkmenistan. As part of this cooperation, through our EU-funded work in the country, we support Turkmenistan in opening new business and investment opportunities, including through its WTO accession process.” – said Mondher Mimouni, Director, Division of Market Development at the International Trade Centre.
The European Union will continue to work closely with Turkmenistan and international partners to support reforms, enhance connectivity and unlock sustainable investment opportunities in the country and across the wider region.