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The waters of Koytendag: natural springs and their role in the valley
17.01.2026Koytendag has preserved many natural springs, rivers, waterfalls and lakes that are important to local residents and tourists. This was reported by the news website Asmannews. The springs feed the Koytenderya River, which flows through a fertile valley. Some springs bubble up in spring during the snowmelt, but dry up by summer. The Aksuw spring near the village of Koyten is famous for its clean water. In the Umbar-dere gorge, tourists are attracted by a waterfall associated with the legend of the Umbar tribal hero. The stream with the Summul waterfall in the Hojagarawul gorge preserves the memory of life in mountain settlements. The small springs of Bash Bulak and Murze Bedil Ata form the Koytenderya River, once a right tributary of the Amu Darya, collecting water from other springs and supplying the fields of the valley. Daray-dere, the longest gorge in the region (29 km), begins at an altitude of about 3,000 metres. At its bottom flows a stream with ten waterfalls, which the locals use for irrigation, reinforcing the bed with clay. At an altitude of more than 2,000 metres, there is a spring that feeds the garden of the village of Gurshun magdanly with more than 2,000 fruit trees. Of particular value is the Chilon-Ata unabi grove, which is cool even in the heat and has crystal-clear springs, including a hydrogen sulphide spring. The Gul-gul spring provides water to Koyten, and the spring opposite the unabi grove created the Aygyr Kel reservoir, which supplies drinking water to residents and a local enterprise. In winter, these springs fill Lake Kete-Kol, and in summer and autumn, they are used for irrigation.
The ‘Guwlyduz’ enterprise produced 97,000 tonnes of salt in 2025
17.01.2026On the shores of the Caspian Sea, in the village of Guwlymayak, lies the ‘Guwlyduz’ enterprise, the largest and oldest salt producer in Turkmenistan. In 2025, production exceeded 97,000 tonnes, which was 102.2% of the plan, according to the Orient news agency. The ‘Guwly’ deposit is one of the largest in the world. Here, salt is formed naturally: seawater evaporates in the estuaries under the sun and wind, leaving pure crystals. Due to this, the salt does not require deep chemical purification and retains microelements that are useful for both food and industry. In 2025, 97,053 tonnes of salt were produced: 86,270 tonnes of coarse industrial salt and 23,000 tonnes of packaged food-grade salt, which is supplied throughout the country. Production is carried out in compliance with environmental standards, preserving the natural balance of the region. ‘Guwlyduz’ products are used not only in cooking. Pure salt is in demand in the textile industry, medicine, balneotherapy and the oil and gas sector. The entire extraction process requires almost no electricity — the main ‘worker’ is the sun, which turns seawater into crystals that are collected by special harvesters.
Turkmenistan to host UN Special Programme for Central Asian Economies Week
17.01.2026Turkmenistan will host the UN Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) Week, which will include an economic forum, meetings of relevant working groups and bilateral meetings, according to the state news agency TDH. This was announced on 16 January during a government meeting by the Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan, Hojamyrat Geldimyradov. During the events, participants will discuss expanding cooperation in the fields of economics, energy, water resources and environmental protection. Particular attention will be paid to improving the efficiency of energy and transport connectivity in the region. In addition, the programme includes discussions on improving digital trade and economic corridors using UN standards. SPECA brings together five Central Asian countries and operates under the auspices of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).
Russian Ambassador: Agreement on Turkmen-Russian university nears completion
17.01.2026The draft inter-governmental agreement on the establishment of a Turkmen-Russian university in Ashgabat is in its final stages. This was announced by Russian Ambassador to Turkmenistan Ivan Volynkin, according to Turkmenportal. According to him, the document defines the conditions for the creation and operation of the Russian-Turkmen university in the capital of Turkmenistan. Ivan Volynkin noted that more than 54,000 students from Turkmenistan are studying at Russian universities. In 2025, the Russian Federation government's quota for Turkmen applicants was 500 state-funded places. Also on the agenda is a project to build a new building for the lower grades of the A.S. Pushkin Joint Turkmen-Russian Secondary School, which has been operating since 2002. The Ambassador said that in 2025, Russian-Turkmen cooperation in the cultural sphere remained active. More than 190 humanitarian events were held, attended by about 16,000 people. He separately noted the interest of the Ashgabat audience in the Russian Embassy's musical project ‘Diplomaticheskiye notki’ (Diplomatic musical notes), which included concerts featuring works by Russian classics.
Turkmenistan and Armenia discussed the development of business cooperation in Yerevan
17.01.2026On 15 January, a business meeting was held in Yerevan with the participation of representatives of government agencies and business circles of Turkmenistan and the Republic of Armenia. This was reported by the press service of the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Turkmenistan. The meeting was attended by companies operating in the textile and food industries, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, transport and logistics, jewellery and tourism. Speeches were made by N. Karamanukyan, Vice-President of the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of the Republic of Armenia, B. Arazov, member of the board of the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan, and Edgar Zakaryan, Deputy Minister of Economy of the Republic of Armenia. They touched upon issues of bilateral trade, business conditions and investment attraction. Participants were also given presentations on business and investment opportunities in Turkmenistan and Armenia. During the meeting, bilateral negotiations were held between company representatives on expanding cooperation.
The ‘Made in Turkmenistan’ brand presented textiles at an exhibition in Germany
17.01.2026From 13 to 16 January, Germany hosted the world's largest textile exhibition, ‘Heimtextil 2026’. For the Ministry of Textile Industry of Turkmenistan, participation in the event marked a strong international start to the year: the Made in Turkmenistan brand confirmed its competitiveness, according to the Orient news agency. Digital printing, which allows complex patterns and designer images to be applied with high precision, attracted particular attention at the Turkmenistan stand. This opens up opportunities for personalised textiles and interiors with long-lasting designs. Among 3,000 participants from 65 countries, Turkmen manufacturers held successful negotiations with buyers and designers, demonstrating the industry's readiness for global integration. The Frankfurt experience will be followed by ‘TurkmenTextile Expo 2026’ in Ashgabat (4–6 June), where foreign partners are invited to implement global trends in Central Asia.
Badhyz Nature Reserve recorded a female leopard with her cub
16.01.2026The second female Near Eastern leopard with a cub has been spotted in the Badhyz State Nature Reserve. This was reported by the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan. A camera trap captured the cub following the female across the reserve. The Near Eastern leopard is one of the rarest predators and is listed in the Red Book. According to experts, the appearance of a second female with offspring indicates the formation of a stable breeding population in the region. Previously, leopards could only be seen here occasionally. Monitoring of rare species is carried out in collaboration with Conservation X Labs. Material from camera traps is used to assess the effectiveness of nature conservation measures. The Badhyz Nature Reserve was established in 1941 in southern Turkmenistan, between the Tejen and Murgab rivers. Its territory is home to caracals, striped hyenas, urials, gazelles and rare bird species.
Ashgabat discussed cooperation between universities in Turkmenistan and Iran
16.01.2026On 14 January, a meeting was held at Magtymguly Turkmen State University with the participation of the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Cultural Advisor Abdolreza Abbasi, the university rector and university management. This was reported by the university's press service. The parties discussed the development of cooperation between higher education institutions in Turkmenistan and Iran. The agenda included issues related to holding a Persian language competition, participation in international events, implementation of joint cultural projects, as well as cooperation in the fields of science, education and culture. During the visit, the guests met with students and teachers of the Persian language programme. The Cultural Centre of the Islamic Republic of Iran presented the university with textbooks and books by Iranian poets translated into Turkmen and Persian.
UNICEF has published the results of its ‘Generation 2050’ study on Turkmenistan
16.01.2026UNICEF in Turkmenistan presented a regional report entitled ‘Generation 2050 in Central Asia’ and a special supplement on the country. This was reported by the online publication ‘Business Turkmenistan’. Representatives of the Ministry of Finance and Economy of Turkmenistan, the Mejlis and social sectors participated in the discussion, considering how investments in children can contribute to long-term development. The document contains a Roadmap for utilising the country's demographic potential until 2050. The study shows that a focus on quality education, healthcare and social protection could increase economic growth by 9% by 2050, as well as prepare future generations for global challenges, including climate change and economic transformation.
Turkmenistan competed in the international stage of the Chinese Motocross Championship
16.01.2026The international stage of the Chinese Motocross Championship (CMX), held in Chongqing, was a significant event for world motorsport. Turkmenistan was represented at the competition by the ‘Kämil’ motorsport club, according to IIC. The team's participation was made possible due to state support for high-performance sports and allowed the athletes to gain valuable international experience. The competition took place on the challenging Jiangjin speed track with the participation of leading factory teams ‘QJMotor’, ‘CFMoto’ and ‘KAYO’. In the 250cc petrol class, Serdar Mollamyradov and Begench Annayev competed for ‘Kämil’, demonstrating a competitive level. In the electric motorcycle races, the club was represented by Konstantin Fedorychev and Karen Avagyan, emphasising the team's focus on modern and environmentally friendly technologies. The athletes' work was coordinated by the club's director, Master of Sports of Turkmenistan Shamyrat Gurbanov. The experience gained in China will be used in preparation for new international competitions, including open championships in neighbouring countries, in conjunction with the Automobile Sports Federation of Turkmenistan.
500 volunteers will ensure the successful staging of the AFC Champions League match in Ashgabat
16.01.2026On February 11, Ashgabat will host the AFC Champions League 2 Round of 16 match between the Turkmen football club ‘Arkadag’ and the Saudi Arabian club ‘Al-Nassr’. The match will be held at the Olympic Stadium, according to the Orient news agency. A large-scale organisational programme has been prepared for the game. Five hundred volunteers, students of the Turkmen State Institute of Physical Culture and Sports who have undergone special training, will be involved in servicing the match. They will be assisted by 15 translators and 15 student journalists, with coordination provided by 50 teachers. The volunteers have been trained in sports ethics, working with spectators, safety requirements and international protocol. The Turkmenistan Football Federation is finalising preparations, hoping that the high level of organisation will make the match a spectacular international event.
The Third International Mathematics Olympiad for schoolchildren will be held in Ashgabat
16.01.2026The Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan will hold the Third International Mathematical Olympiad for schoolchildren in Ashgabat from 8 to 13 April. This was reported by the news website Asmannews. Registration for participants and team leaders will run from 15 January to 1 April. Schoolchildren and recent school leavers from Turkmenistan and other countries are invited to participate. The Olympiad will be held in an individual format in one round, with Turkmen, Russian and English as the working languages. Participants will be offered two levels of difficulty — categories A and B, with age restrictions depending on the category. The number of participants from one country is not limited. The organisers will provide accommodation, meals, transport and a cultural programme for the duration of the competition.
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