On 20 October 2025, the newly appointed Ambassador of Turkmenistan to the United Arab Emirates, Bayram Bayramov, presented copies of his credentials to the Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister of the UAE, Omar Obaid Al Hassan Al Shamsi. This was reported by the press service of the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Turkmenistan. During the meeting, the parties discussed prospects for strengthening Turkmen-Emirati cooperation in political, trade, economic, energy, humanitarian and other areas of mutual interest. The negotiations took place in a warm and professional atmosphere, reflecting the spirit of traditional friendship and partnership between Turkmenistan and the United Arab Emirates.
Ahead of the International Conference and Exhibition ‘Oil and Gas of Turkmenistan – 2025’ (OGT 2025), representatives of ‘Schlumberger Logelco Inc.’ met with the management of the State Concern ‘Türkmengaz’. This was reported by the IIC of Turkmenistan. The parties discussed expanding cooperation in the oil and gas sector, introducing modern technologies, and prospects for joint projects. Company engineer Jordi Vendrell-Ares noted the importance of strengthening the partnership and confirmed ‘Schlumberger Logelco Inc.’s readiness to actively participate in the event. OGT 2025 will be held with the support of the State Concern ‘Türkmengaz’ and will bring together leading global companies in the energy and technology sectors.
On 20 October, a delegation from Turkmenistan led by Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Myahri Byashimova took part in a ministerial meeting in Luxembourg, which was held after the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting. This was reported by the press service of the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Turkmenistan. The forum was attended by countries from the EU, Central Asia, the Eastern Partnership and Turkey. The meeting was chaired by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, Kaja Kallas, as well as European Commissioners for International Partnerships and Enlargement, Jozef Sikela and Marta Kos. Myahri Byashimova emphasised Turkmenistan's desire to strengthen its partnership with the EU on the principles of trust and equality. Among the priorities for cooperation are the development of transport infrastructure, including the Trans-Caspian route, energy connectivity, participation in the SECCA programme, cooperation in the field of renewable energy and hydrogen technologies, as well as environmental initiatives – the creation of regional centres for combating desertification and climate technologies, and the development of the Caspian Environmental Initiative. The EU announced the preparation of a coordination framework for the implementation of the Connectivity Agenda with the participation of states, financial institutions and the private sector. The draft document will be presented in November 2025 at the Trans-Caspian Corridor Investment Forum in Tashkent. The next meeting of participants is scheduled in a year's time.
The exhibition ‘Ancient Civilisations of Turkmenistan’ will open to the public for the first time at the Capitoline Museum in Rome. The exhibition will run from 25 October 2025 to 12 April 2026. This was reported by the online news resource TerraNews. Italian visitors will be presented with archaeological finds related to the cultures of Margiana and Parthia. The exhibition will feature items from Margiana (3rd–2nd millennium BC), located in south-eastern Turkmenistan, as well as from Parthia, including artefacts from the Nisa archaeological complex (2nd century BC – 1st century AD) in the central-southern part of the country. Among the exhibits are gold necklaces with semi-precious stones from Gonur Depe, clay heads of rulers and warriors, as well as ivory rhytons from the Hellenistic period. All items are provided by the State Museum of the State Cultural Centre of Turkmenistan. The exhibition is organised by Roma Capitale, the Department of Culture and the Capitoline Cultural Heritage Office, with the support of the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Ministry of Culture of Turkmenistan.
Representatives of the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan and the country's leading universities and colleges are on a working visit to the United States from 18 to 28 October. This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan. The purpose of the visit is to sign memoranda of understanding, develop academic exchanges between students and teachers, and discuss joint projects in the field of education, science and technology. The first item on the agenda was Northwest College (Wyoming), where the delegation familiarised themselves with the educational facilities and met with the college administration. Further visits are planned to Montana State University Billings, the University of Montana, Montana State University, and the University of Wyoming, as well as meetings in Washington on the topics of online learning, technological diplomacy, and innovative educational programmes. The topics of negotiations cover a wide range of areas, from English language and pedagogy to ecology, healthcare, economics, engineering, and IT. As noted, cooperation between educational institutions in Turkmenistan and the United States is actively developing. The intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in the field of education, signed in 2023, has opened up new opportunities for universities and research centres in both countries. Particular attention is paid to the partnership with Kent State University and the participation of Turkmen students and teachers in international programmes and internships.
The Turkmen film ‘Daragt’ (‘Tree of Destiny’), directed by Sahysalyh Bayramov, was awarded the Special Jury Prize at the 2nd ‘Tojik Somoni’ International Film Festival, held from 15 to 20 October in Dushanbe. This was reported by the IIC of Turkmenistan. The film, shot at the Oguzhan ‘Turkmenfilm’ studio, was presented in the festival's competition programme. The jury, which included experts from Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, highly praised the film for its profound exploration of the themes of loyalty and family values. The film tells the story of a Turkmen woman, Nazik, who sees her husband off to the front during the Great Patriotic War and, despite years of waiting, remains hopeful that he will return. The plot is based on real events and eyewitness accounts. The award was a recognition of the attention paid in Turkmenistan to the preservation of spiritual and family traditions. Directors from more than 20 countries took part in the festival, which was timed to coincide with Tajik Cinema Day. The festival also featured the film ‘Composer’ by director Maksat Gylyjov, produced by ‘Turkmenfilm’ with the support of the Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov Charitable Foundation for Assistance to Children in Need of Guardianship. The Oguzhan ‘Turkmenfilm’ studio remains the leading producer of feature films in the country, presenting viewers with new films that reflect the history, culture and modern life of Turkmenistan.
On 20 October, a telephone conversation took place between the Foreign Affairs Minister of Turkmenistan, Rashid Meredov, and the Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. This was reported by the press service of the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Turkmenistan. The interlocutors noted the high level of political and diplomatic relations between the countries and discussed preparations for the International Forum on Peace and Trust, which will be held on 12 December in Ashgabat. The importance of maintaining regular contacts between the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Turkmenistan and Qatar was also emphasised.
The National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov made a working trip to Afghanistan, where he familiarised himself with the progress of construction of the Serhetabat-Herat section, named ‘Arkadagyň ak ýoly’ (‘Arkadag's White Road’). This was reported by the news website Asmannews. During the ceremony at the construction site, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov was welcomed by delegations from Turkmenistan and Afghanistan. The participants emphasised the symbolic and practical significance of the project, which unites the efforts of the countries of the region for peace, stability and development. In his speech, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov stressed that the TAPI project is not only economically significant, but also a peace-building step that strengthens ties between nations. According to the Hero Arkadag, the construction of the gas pipeline will create new jobs, bring Afghanistan an annual income of over a billion dollars and become a factor in economic stabilisation. A modern material and technical base has been created for the implementation of the project, more than 200 units of special equipment have been deployed, and the participation of local specialists is planned. During the visit, Abdul Ghani Baradar, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Afghanistan for Economic Affairs, thanked the Turkmen side for its support and noted that TAPI symbolises mutually beneficial cooperation and the strengthening of trust between the countries of the region. The Deputy Prime Minister stressed that infrastructure – power lines, roads and logistics centres – will be developed along the gas pipeline route, creating a unified system of economic ties. In his speech, the National Leader of the Turkmen people paid special attention to the international recognition of Turkmenistan as a neutral state actively participating in regional and global initiatives. Hero Arkadag also noted the support of the project by the United States and thanked the American companies participating in its implementation. The ceremony ended with a blessing for the start of welding work on the Serhetabat-Herat section. After a prayer offered by the Mufti of Turkmenistan, the official start of the new stage of construction was given. At the end of the event, a traditional toy-sadaqah was given. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov's visit was yet another confirmation of Turkmenistan's commitment to a policy of neutrality, good neighbourliness and constructive cooperation. The implementation of the TAPI project and related infrastructure initiatives is seen as an important contribution to strengthening regional stability, economic integration and the well-being of the peoples of Central and South Asia.
During his visit to Afghanistan, the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov met with Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Afghanistan for Economic Affairs Abdul Ghani Baradar. This was reported by the state news agency TDH. The Deputy Prime Minister noted the high level of friendly relations with Turkmenistan, which adheres to a policy of positive neutrality. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, in turn, emphasised the historical ties of brotherhood and good neighbourliness between the two peoples. The parties discussed cooperation in the fields of trade, energy, transport and communications, noting the importance of joint projects such as the ‘Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India’ gas pipeline, as well as power transmission lines and fibre-optic communications. Hero Arkadag announced an upcoming ceremony dedicated to the construction of the ‘Serhetabat-Herat’ gas pipeline (‘Arkadagyň ak ýoly’), expressing confidence that the project will strengthen long-term relations and create new opportunities for the development of the Afghan economy. Abdul Ghani Baradar thanked the Turkmen side for its support and humanitarian assistance, noting the importance of Turkmenistan as a peace-loving neighbour. Following the meeting, the parties confirmed their readiness to further develop bilateral cooperation.
On 20 October, Foreign Affairs Minister of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov held a meeting with the new Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of India to Turkmenistan, Bandaru Wilsonbabu, who presented copies of his credentials. This was reported by the press service of the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Turkmenistan. Rashid Meredov congratulated the diplomat on his appointment and wished him success in his work. The parties noted the high level of political dialogue and the active development of trade, economic and cultural ties, emphasising the importance of mutual visits at the highest level. Cooperation in international and regional organisations was discussed. The Indian side reiterated its support for Turkmenistan's policy of permanent neutrality and its peace initiatives. Prospects for cooperation in the field of culture and education were also discussed. The Indian Ambassador thanked the Turkmen side for the warm welcome and confirmed his readiness to contribute to the further strengthening of bilateral relations.
Last week, 48 deals were concluded at the State Commodity and Raw Materials Exchange of Turkmenistan. This was reported by the state news agency TDH. Entrepreneurs from the UAE, Turkey, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan purchased aviation kerosene and hydrotreated diesel fuel produced by ‘Türkmennebit’ for foreign currency. Bedding sets, terry products, flannel, cotton yarn and licorice root extract were also sold. The total amount of foreign currency transactions exceeded $47.1 million. On the domestic market, Turkmen companies purchased base oil, petroleum coke, polypropylene, as well as textile products and liquorice root extract worth over 153.2 million manats.
A festive event was held at the ‘Yyldyz’ Hotel in Ashgabat to mark Diwali, the Indian Festival of Lights, organised by the Indian Embassy in Turkmenistan. This was reported by the Orient news agency. The festival, symbolising the victory of light over darkness and good over evil, was marked by the lighting of the traditional Diya lamp, floral decorations and a vibrant cultural programme. Indian Ambassador to Turkmenistan Bandaru Wilsonbabu thanked Turkmenistan for its hospitality and recalled recent high-level contacts, including meetings between the leaders of India and Turkmenistan at the SCO summit. The Diplomat emphasised the importance of Turkmenistan in the region and expressed confidence in the further strengthening of bilateral cooperation. Guests at the event enjoyed Indian dances, performances by Turkmen artists with Indian hits, traditional dishes and the atmosphere of Bollywood. The event demonstrated not only the strategic partnership, but also the deep cultural ties between the countries, which are strengthened through the exchange of traditions, art and spiritual values.