On February 6, 2023, the regular 15th meeting of the Intergovernmental Turkmen-Iranian Commission on Consular, Border and Customs Issues was held in the building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan. Heads and representatives of relevant ministries and law enforcement agencies of the two countries took part in its work.

The delegation of Turkmenistan at the meeting was headed by the Deputy Foreign Minister Vepa Hajiyev, the delegation of the Islamic Republic of Iran - Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Consular and Parliamentary Affairs, as well as for Iranian expatriates Alireza Bikdeli.

During the meeting, the parties discussed the implementation of the agreements reached at the 14th meeting of the intergovernmental commission, which was held in Tehran in January 2019. The parties exchanged views on the current state and prospects of bilateral relations and stressed the need for strict implementation of all agreements reached.

In particular, issues of improving the legal aspect of enhancing the mechanism of interaction in consular matters and in the field of information exchange between law enforcement agencies of the two countries, as well as expanding partnerships to establish effective management at border and customs checkpoints were considered.

Based on the results of the 15th meeting of the Intergovernmental Turkmen-Iranian Commission on Consular, Border and Customs Issues, the final protocol was signed.

The final document of the International Conference "Dialogue is a Guarantee of Peace", held in Ashgabat on December 11, 2022 in the frames of the Ashgabat International Week, was published in the six official languages of the UN (A/77/651) as an official document of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly under paragraph 14 Agenda "Culture of Peace".

The document reflects the fundamental goals and principles of the UN Charter, which include obligations to resolve disputes by peaceful means and methods. In this context, the document emphasizes that inclusive dialogue in its various manifestations plays an important role in strengthening relations and cooperation among UN member states.

The Outcome Document also supports the initiative of the UN Secretary General on the formation of a New Agenda for Building Peace, which is consonant with the initiative of Turkmenistan to promote the philosophy of "Dialogue as a guarantee of peace".

In addition, the published document notes the need to implement global strategies and programs of the UN, in particular, the joint implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The Final Document emphasizes that the policy of neutrality plays an important role in the development of a peaceful dialogue, trusting, friendly and mutually beneficial relations between the countries of the world and contributes to the strengthening of international peace and security at the regional and global levels. At the same time, the importance of preventive diplomacy is emphasized, in particular, the effective activities of the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia in Ashgabat in order to support the efforts of the world community to peacefully resolve conflicts in the interests of maintaining peace, as well as the need to develop and strengthen preventive diplomacy tools.

The Global Initiative “Dialogue is a Guarantee of Peace” promoted by Turkmenistan is aimed at consolidating the efforts of the international community in strengthening the traditions of peaceful and trusting coexistence of the peoples of the world, restoring values and worldviews, defining a culture of peace and trust as an integral factor in international relations.

The conference “Dialogue is a Guarantee of Peace”, which laid the foundation for the launch in 2023 of the Global Campaign for Dialogue as a Guarantee of Peace, has become a clear confirmation that Turkmenistan, being an active member of the world community, is not limited only to putting forward significant initiatives aimed at developing wide international cooperation that meets the fundamental interests of all countries and peoples, but also takes consistent steps towards their practical implementation.

On December 11, 2022, at the initiative of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, the Yyldyz Hotel hosted the International Conference “Dialogue is the Guarantee of Peace”, dedicated to the International Day of Neutrality and the 27th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s permanent neutral status.

The high-level plenary session brought together the Deputy Chairmen of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan, members of the Milli Gengesh, heads of state agencies, turkmen and foreign diplomats - heads and representatives of diplomatic missions of Turkmenistan accredited abroad, as well as diplomatic missions of foreign states and authoritative international organizations operating in our country, including the UN and its specialized structures, representatives of public organizations and the media.

Among the guests of honor of the forum were participants of international and regional events held in the Turkmen capital on the eve of a significant date.

The participants listened with great attention to the Address of the UN Secretary-General António Guterres, which was read out by the UN Resident Coordinator in Turkmenistan Dmitry Shlapachenko.

Then the floor was given to numerous delegates of the forum, who thanked for the invitation to take part in the current conference and events on the occasion of the 27th anniversary of the neutrality of Turkmenistan, congratulated the Turkmen people on the great national holiday.

Their vision of the positive role of independent neutral Turkmenistan in strengthening international relations was presented in speeches hybrid format by other foreign participants - heads of authoritative international organizations.

Among them were Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Central Asia, Head of the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia Ms. Natalia Gherman, Secretary General of the Organization of Turkic States Kubanychbek Omuraliev, Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Helga Maria Schmid sent a message, which was read by the head of the OSCE Center in Ashgabat John MacGregor, Secretary General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Zhang Ming, Secretary General of the Economic Cooperation Organization, Ambassador Khusrav Noziri.

At the end of the plenary session, the work of the International Conference "Dialogue is the Guarantee of Peace" continued within the framework of three thematic sessions: "Dialogue as the basis for preventive activities and conflict prevention", "Strengthening food and environmental security through dialogue", "Multilateral cooperation in the information space and the role of information networks in establishing interethnic dialogue”.

Based on the results of the thematic sessions, the Final Document was adopted. At the end of the conference, meetings of its participants with representatives of various state agencies took place.

On November 29, 2022, the Turkmen-Austrian business forum was held in Ashgabat. The event was organized by the Chamber of Commercу and Industry of Turkmenistan and the Federal Economic Chamber of the Republic of Austria.

A delegation consisting of heads and representatives of state institutions and companies of Austria specializing in the field of mechanical engineering, education, digital system and electronic software arrived in Turkmenistan to participate in the Forum.

From the Turkmen side, representatives of a number of sectoral ministries and departments, as well as members of the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs took part in the business forum.

The agenda of the meeting included discussion of promising areas of partnership between sectoral departments and business circles of Turkmenistan and Austria, in particular, in the fields of industry, energy, agriculture and transport.

During the talks, ways were analyzed to bring relations to a new level in various areas of the economy and investments, in the field of high technologies, the possibility of expanding trade turnover, and specific plans for joint work were outlined.

Within the framework of the forum, meetings were also held between representatives of ministries and departments, private companies and entrepreneurs of the two countries, on the sidelines of which documents were signed, new ties were established, and issues of further interaction were discussed.

October 26th is the official opening day of the OGT 2022 Conference and Expo, which will run for three days through October 28th, 2022.

At a time when every part of the world is affected by climate change, the subject of efficient energy use and transition to cleaner sources of energy is ever more important. The OGT 2022 is devoted to exactly this subject: to strengthen the regional dialogue on further sustainable development of the energy sector and expand opportunities for attracting foreign direct investment to the oil and gas industry of Turkmenistan.

To achieve the goal of the sustainable development of the energy sector, industry leaders and experts need to be well-informed about the new and more fuel-efficient methods of oil and gas production. They need a platform to share their experiences and expertise with national and international fellows – a need that is availed by the OGT 2022 Conference and Expo.

Similarly, attracting foreign direct investment to the oil and gas industry of Turkmenistan is meant to diversify not only the distribution of the produced oil and gas but also to apply innovative methods of production in the oil and gas sector. The participation and business meetings on the sidelines of the conference will give a chance to potential investors to pitch their proposals for diverse projects in the oil and gas industry, chemical gas utilization, optimization of mature fields, and development of offshore blocks in the Turkmen sector of the Caspian Sea.

Even though the dialog on sustainable development of the energy sector and attracting foreign direct investment are direct goals of the OGT 2022, the agenda of the Conference is not indifferent to the pressing global issue of climate change. Hence, four out of six sessions are wholly dedicated to the future of energy. While the plenary session will discuss the challenges and opportunities in the future of energy, the last three sessions will be wholly dedicated to exchanging ideas and experiences on such topics as “New Era Energy: renewables and hydrogen; environmental aspects of hydrocarbon development; and innovative technologies and know-how in oil and gas science and education.

Last November, in his speech at the 26th session of the UN Climate Conference the President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, noted that “Turkmenistan welcomes the Global Methane Commitment Initiative ….”

Less than a year later, in October the OGT 2022 and its preceding counterpart International Scientific Conference: “Environmental aspects in the production of hydrocarbon resources” in June 2022 substantiate that commitment. Hence, the main speakers on the agenda of the OGT 2022 are key decision-makers such as Mr. Dmitri Shlapachenko, UN Resident Coordinator in Turkmenistan and world-recognized experts in methane reduction as Ms. Olga Gassan-zade of Carbon Limits. For instance, along the lines of these two conferences “an initiation study” was conducted between the experts in Norway and Turkmenistan “to identify opportunities for knowledge transfer and capacity building activities.”

The high-level international oil and gas conference has been taking place in Turkmenistan since the late 1990s. The OGT 2022 will be the 27th one. This year it will be accompanied by an Expo of innovative technologies and services of international and national oil and gas companies. Both the Conference and Expo garnered a high-level interest from senior government officials, diplomatic missions, industry leaders, and experts in the oil and gas sector.

Around 40 representatives from more than 30 media entities will participate in the OGT 2022 to report on its progress to audiences not only in Turkmenistan but all over the world. The impressive list of media representatives includes writers and editors of global oil and gas analytics such as Argus Media, S&P Global Commodity Insights, Natural Gas World, China Daily, Interfax, Tass News Agency, and Belorussian News Agency. Till the start of the OGT 2022, dozens of news snippets were published to spread the message of the OGT 2022 to audiences beyond Turkmenistan. For instance, widely read news sites such as China Daily, Natural Gas World, and Central Asia News have posted the press release of the Conference so that people who will not be able to attend the OGT will still be able to learn about its mission and progress.

For the OGT 2022, the organizing committee has arranged round-trip charter flights in the Dubai-Ashgabat-Dubai route to help more than 100 delegates come to Ashgabat at a time when international travel is barely recovering from the Covid-19 break. More than 500 foreign and local delegates of international organizations, diplomatic missions, and international and national companies residing in Turkmenistan will also attend both the Conference and Expo. The delegates represent more than 200 companies from 45 countries. Of those who could not join the OGT 2022 in person, around 100 are expected to tune in online via the Zoom link. In addition, more than 50 energy companies will be represented at the Expo.

In his address at an event analogous to the OGT 2022 – World Gas Conference 2022 in Daegu, Korea – Mr. Ban Ki-moon, the former UN Secretary-General cautioned that “time was running out to address greenhouse emissions” while emphasizing “that natural gas could help drive down greenhouse gas emissions … when coupled with carbon capture and storage [making it] an even cleaner energy source.”

The oil and gas industry is like a double-edged sword, how we produce and use them can have either mitigating or deteriorating effects on the environment. So for the following three days, the OGT 2022 will promote the efficient production and consumption of oil and gas by giving a platform to experts, decision-makers, and industry leaders to present and exchange their ideas, expertise, and experience.

The second Youth Climate Conference was held in Ashgabat, bringing together students, eco-activists and volunteers, representatives of the academic and diplomatic communities.
The forum was held in a hybrid format, which made it possible to attract not only young leaders from different regions of the country, but also well-known international experts: from the envoy of the UN Secretary General to scientists dealing with climate change, as well as representatives of the COP27 chairing group - the UN Climate Change Conference, which will be held from November 6 to 18, 2022 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.

Recently, the opinions and views of young people have been playing an increasingly important role in shaping the action plan on the climate agenda. At today's conference, young activists shared interesting and bold ideas for developing new proposals to reduce the consequences of the global climate crisis.

At the end of the forum, the results of the work were summarized, creative and innovative approaches to the problem under discussion were formulated and the official statement of the 2nd Youth Conference on Climate Change in Turkmenistan was announced.

The opening of the exhibition of innovative technologies and services of national and foreign players in the energy market kicked off the international forum "Oil and Gas of Turkmenistan", which brought together more than 500 delegates in Ashgabat representing 206 companies from 45 countries, as well as government agencies, academic and diplomatic circles, financial institutions.
President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov sent a welcoming address to the forum participants. The head of state expressed confidence that "a large-scale forum designed to familiarize the world community with the successes of the oil and gas industry of Turkmenistan and promote the exchange of experience with foreign partners in this area will significantly increase the production, processing and diversification of energy supplies to international markets."

Being one of the major exporters of energy resources, Turkmenistan stands for the formation of sustainable international systems for their transportation. The construction of gas pipelines and transport and transit corridors will be a key factor in maintaining sustainable development and stability in the region, the Turkmen leader noted in his address, citing the Turkmenistan-China gas artery and the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India transnational gas pipeline being laid as an example.

Currently, the development of one of the world's largest blue fuel deposits "Galkynysh", the development of hydrocarbon deposits of the Turkmen shelf of the Caspian Sea with the attraction of foreign investment is going on, the petrochemical and gas chemical industries of the processing sector are developing.

All these areas are reflected in the exposition "Oil and Gas of Turkmenistan" - OGT-2022, which unfolded at the site of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the country. The show is opened by Turkmen key structures and enterprises of the fuel and energy complex, demonstrating their successes and potential for cooperation, promising projects.

Technological capabilities and current proposals are also presented by leading foreign companies - partners of Turkmenistan in the energy sector. In general, more than 50 companies demonstrate the development vectors of the oil and gas industry, the latest developments and industry trends at the exhibition.

The exhibition itself is an innovation of the traditional OGT forum, which until this version was held in the format of an international congress. Now it has been supplemented by an exposition part, located in the immediate vicinity of the conference venue, which will begin work in the afternoon.

The “presentation” of the event also deserves attention: this year the organizers took care of the stylish design of the forum site, conducive to focusing on its main tasks, goals and significance.

At the request of the Turkmen side, the Turkish government has temporarily introduced a visa regime for citizens of Turkmenistan, in connection with which a new visa center has opened in the Turkmen capital, the Turkish Embassy in Ashgabat told ORIENT.

The visa application center is located along the street G. Kulieva, house 88 (Nowruz Haly building). The list of documents required for Turkmen citizens to apply for various categories of visas to Turkey can be found at this link. The temporary visa regime was introduced from September 14, 2022. Turkmen citizens can apply for work, tourist, student, business and transit visas, as well as for participation in cultural or sporting events and for receiving medical services in Turkey. Different types of visas may require different documents.

The consular department of the Turkish Embassy in Turkmenistan can also issue visas, however, in order to improve the quality and speed of the service, it was decided to open a separate visa center.

You can make an appointment at the Visa Application Center at this link. For more information, please visit gatewayinternational.com.tr, call +993 (12) 40-02-12 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Transport connectivity is critical to the future of our countries, in particular to reduce the cost of trade and improve access to global markets, promote the integration of economies and people, and achieve the SDGs.

This was stated by UN Secretary General António Guterres in his address to the participants of the Ministerial Transport Conference of Landlocked Developing Countries “Ashgabat Process: Funding for Better Connectivity”.

– For various reasons, today there are great obstacles to improving the transport interconnection of landlocked countries-Guterres said. The large number of border crossings, complex transport and border procedures, and restrictions imposed by the pandemic have resulted in costs and delays.

– We must work together to return transport to its previous path of development,” the UN Secretary General said. – For landlocked countries, this need can be addressed through a roadmap that describes the activities and the cost-effectiveness of the activities.

Guterres called on the participating countries of the Avaza conference to use innovation and technology to achieve the set goals, as well as join forces to ensure sustainable transport and real interconnection of landlocked countries.

Turkmenistan and Georgia have agreed to open direct flights - during the visit of Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili to Ashgabat, representatives of the two countries signed an agreement on cooperation in the field of transport, which will make it possible to start direct flights between Ashgabat and Tbilisi.

During the negotiations, the possibility of removing barriers to the export of Georgian products to Turkmenistan was considered, which, in turn, can arrange supplies of its chemical industry products to Georgia.

During the visit, the Prime Minister of Georgia met with the President of Turkmenistan. In addition, Georgian Foreign Minister Ilya Darchiashvili met with Turkmen Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov.