News
Turkmenistan and Tajikistan held political consultations
21.08.2026On 20 August 2026, political consultations took place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan between the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan and the Republic of Tajikistan. This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan. The parties discussed the bilateral agenda and issues relating to the further development of political and diplomatic cooperation. They noted the effectiveness of cooperation within the framework of the United Nations. The Republic of Tajikistan has co-sponsored more than 30 resolutions adopted on the initiative of Turkmenistan. Particular attention was paid to trade and economic cooperation and the growth in trade turnover. Prospects for cooperation in the energy, transport and communications sectors, as well as in agriculture, trade and investment, were discussed. The intensification of economic partnership was noted. This year, Dushanbe hosted the 14th meeting of the Joint Turkmen-Tajik Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation and the second meeting of the Turkmen-Tajik Business Council. The parties also discussed cultural and humanitarian cooperation and joint initiatives for the near future. Following the consultations, both sides reaffirmed their readiness to continue constructive dialogue and strengthen friendly Turkmen-Tajik relations. On the same day, a Programme of Cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan for 2027–2028 was signed.
Turkmenistan and the IOM discussed cooperation on migration
21.08.2026Vepa Hajiyev, Permanent Representative of Turkmenistan to the United Nations, met with Pär Liljert, Director of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Office to the UN in New York. This was reported by the IIC. The parties discussed current cooperation and identified priorities for further collaboration. They also exchanged views on regional developments and trends, humanitarian issues and the management of migration processes. During the meeting, Turkmenistan reaffirmed its interest in continuing to cooperate with UN agencies on migration-related matters.
FC ‘Ahal’ has been informed of the AFC Challenge League fixture list
21.08.2026The Asian Football Confederation has approved the fixtures for the group stage of the 2026/27 AFC Challenge League. Turkmenistan’s ‘Ahal’ will compete in Group A of the ‘West’ zone, according to IIC of Turkmenistan. The group’s matches will be played in a centralised format in Bhutan. The team’s opponents will be Lebanon’s ‘Al Ansar’, Syria’s ‘Al-Ittihad’ and the tournament hosts, ‘Paro’. The eight strongest clubs will progress to the play-offs. The knockout matches will begin in spring 2027. ‘Ahal’ fixtures: 17 October – ‘Ahal’ vs ‘Paro’; 20 October – ‘Al-Ittihad’ vs ‘Ahal’; 25 October – ‘Ahal’ vs ‘Al Ansar’.
A round-table discussion was held at the Consulate-General of Turkmenistan in Mashhad
21.08.2026On 19 August, a round-table discussion was held at the Consulate-General of Turkmenistan in Mashhad, dedicated to the forthcoming session of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan and the UN General Assembly resolution ‘International Year of Law, 2028’, adopted on the initiative of Turkmenistan. This was reported by the press office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan. Before the event began, participants viewed an exhibition of books by the President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, and the Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan, National Leader of the Turkmen people Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, as well as works of art and photographic material on the country’s historical and cultural heritage. The round-table discussion was attended by representatives of the Turkmen diaspora, the magazines ‘Magtymguly adyndaky’ and ‘Gülistan ykdysady’, the news agencies ‘Ülkämiz’ and ‘Sedaýe Gonbad’, the cultural and healthcare sectors, as well as staff from the Consulate-General of Turkmenistan. Participants highlighted the significance of the upcoming session of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan, which is to take place on 23 September in Ashgabat. The session is scheduled to review the country’s domestic and foreign policy developments and set long-term priorities. Particular attention was paid to the initiative by the President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, to declare 2028 the Year of International Law. The relevant resolution of the UN General Assembly was adopted with the co-sponsorship of 78 states. The meeting concluded with an exchange of views on promoting Turkmenistan’s peace-seeking initiatives and developing multilateral cooperation.
A Turkmen tennis player has reached the quarter-finals of the Roland Garros Junior Series
21.08.2026Ali Geldiyev, a 14-year-old tennis player from Turkmenistan, has reached the quarter-finals of the Roland Garros Junior Series regional qualifying tournament in Almaty. The competition is being held on the clay courts of ‘Gorky Tennis Park’, according to the news agency ‘Turkmenistan: Golden age’. The tournament features 16 boys and 16 girls aged 16 and under from countries in Central and West Asia. Turkmenistan is represented by Ali Geldiyev, who qualified to compete in Almaty thanks to his high international and Asian rankings. In Group A, Geldiyev defeated Beksulton Voksidov of Uzbekistan 7–6(1), 6–0, and Dong Seon Kim 6–0, 6–1. In his match against the tournament’s top seed, Rodion Traigel of Kazakhstan, the Turkmen tennis player lost in the decisive tie-break — 3–6, 6–2, 5–10. Having finished second in the group, Geldiyev advanced to the quarter-finals. His opponent will be the eighth seed, Kiarash Sadeghizeidi from Iran, the winner of Group D. The winners of the qualifiers will secure places in the final stage of the Roland Garros Junior Series, which will take place in Japan in October. There, the sole place in the main draw of the 2027 Roland Garros Junior Championships will be up for grabs. In May, at the age of 14, Ali Geldiyev became the men’s champion of Turkmenistan for the first time, setting a national record. He began his training at Children’s and Youth Sports School No. 9 in Turkmenabat under the guidance of Babamurat Mamatrasulov. The player is currently training in Ashgabat with Meylis Orazmuhammedov and Yuri Rogussky.
The President of Turkmenistan received the Tajik Foreign Minister
21.08.2026The President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, received the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan, Sirojiddin Muhriddin. This was reported by the IIC of Turkmenistan. The parties discussed preparations for the meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of State and the consultative meeting of the leaders of the Central Asian countries and Azerbaijan at the ‘Awaza’ National Tourist Zone. Particular attention was paid to expanding trade and developing cooperation in agriculture, energy and logistics. On the same day, inter-ministerial political consultations took place in the capital of Turkmenistan. The parties coordinated their positions on cooperation within the UN, the CIS and the SCO. Following the talks, a Programme of Cooperation between the foreign ministries of Turkmenistan and Tajikistan for 2027–2028 was signed.
A Turkmen chess player has been crowned Asian rapid chess champion
21.08.2026Turkmen chess player Lala Shohradova won the gold medal in the rapid chess tournament at the Asian Junior Chess Championship (under-20) in Mumbai. This was reported by the IIC of Turkmenistan. After seven rounds, the player scored 6 points out of a possible 7. Pratitee Bordoloi of India achieved the same result, but Lala Shohradova was awarded first place on tiebreaks. In the third round, she lost to her compatriot WFM Jahan Rejepova, after which she won four games in a row. Sixty female chess players from seven countries took part in the women’s rapid chess competition. Turkmenistan was represented by Jahan Rejepova, Myahri Agamyradova, Leyla Shohradova and Lala Shohradova. For Lala Shohradova, this is her second medal of the current championship. On 17 August, she won the silver medal in the blitz tournament.
Turkmen football club ‘Arkadag’ has learnt the dates of its AFC Champions League 2 matches
20.08.2026The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has published the fixture list for the group stage of the 2026/27 AFC Champions League 2. ‘Arkadag’s opponents in Group B are ‘Al-Jazira’ (UAE), ‘Gol Gohar’ (Iran) and ‘Al-Muharraq’ (Bahrain), according to the news website Turkmenportal. The Turkmen club will begin the group stage on 15 September with a home match against ‘Al-Muharraq’, kicking off at 18:45 Ashgabat time. On 14 October, ‘Arkadag’ will play away against ‘Al-Jazira’. The matches against ‘Gol Gohar’ will take place on 28 October and 4 November: as the Iranian club is technically hosting its opponents on neutral ground, the first match will be held in Tajikistan and the return leg in Turkmenistan. The group stage will conclude with matches against ‘Al-Muharraq’ on 25 November and ‘Al-Jazira’ on 9 December. ‘Arkadag’ will play their home matches at their 10,000-capacity stadium in the city of Arkadag. ‘Arkadag’s fixture list in Group B: Round 1, 15 September, 18:45 – ‘Arkadag’ vs ‘Al-Muharraq’ Round 2, 14 October, 20:00 – ‘Al-Jazira’ vs ‘Arkadag’ Round 3, 28 October, 18:45 – ‘Gol Gohar’ vs ‘Arkadag’ Round 4, 4 November, 18:45 – ‘Arkadag’ vs ‘Gol Gohar’ Round 5, 25 November, 19:00 – ‘Al-Muharraq’ vs ‘Arkadag’ Round 6, 9 December, 18:45 – ‘Arkadag’ vs ‘Al-Jazira’
The Turkmenistan national wrestling team is set to travel to Bratislava
20.08.2026Three members of the Turkmenistan national freestyle wrestling team will compete at the World Junior (U20) Championships, which begin on 20 August in Bratislava (Slovakia). This was reported by the news website Turkmenportal. The national team comprises Azatberdi Ashirgulyev (up to 61 kg), Alp Arslan Begenjov (up to 86 kg) and Dovletgeldi Myradov (up to 92 kg). The tournament is organised by United World Wrestling (UWW). Matches featuring the Turkmen athletes will be broadcast live on the ‘Belet’ platform. The broadcast will begin at 13:30 Ashgabat time.
Registration has opened for the CIET 2026 International Conference and Exhibition
20.08.2026Registration is now open for the CIET 2026 International Conference and Exhibition ‘Development of the Construction, Industrial, Chemical and Energy Sectors of Turkmenistan’. The forum will take place on 3–5 November in Ashgabat. This was reported by the online publication ‘Business Turkmenistan’. The conference will be attended by representatives of government departments, investors, financial institutions, foreign companies, contractors, technology suppliers and industry experts. Last year, the forum brought together more than 500 delegates from over 50 countries. The main themes of CIET 2026 will be construction, industrial modernisation, the chemical and petrochemical sectors, energy, transport, infrastructure, digitalisation and smart technologies. Project financing mechanisms, including public-private partnerships, will also be discussed. Business meetings in both B2G and B2B formats are planned for participants with government bodies, enterprises and private companies in Turkmenistan. An international exhibition of equipment, technologies, building materials and industrial solutions will run in parallel. The forum will be held under the motto ‘Innovation • Investment • Growth’ and will focus on attracting foreign investment, technology and engineering expertise to Turkmenistan’s priority projects.
‘Türkmengeologiýa’ is stepping up its search for new gas fields
20.08.2026The State Corporation ‘Türkmengeologiýa’ is carrying out exploration and production drilling at oil and gas fields in various regions of Turkmenistan. The main focus is on the search for low-sulphur natural gas, according to the online news site AsmanNews. The work is being carried out as part of the ‘Programme for the Development of Turkmenistan’s Oil and Gas Industry for the period up to 2030’. Exploratory drilling for oil and gas is being carried out by specialised oil and gas exploration expeditions of the State Corporation ‘Türkmengeologiýa’. Strengthening the corporation’s material and technical base remains one of the priorities. Alongside the discovery of new fields, the sector is developing previously identified deposits, bringing them into production and increasing oil and gas output. This year marks the 20th anniversary of cooperation between Turkmenistan and the People’s Republic of China in the oil and gas sector. The fourth phase of the ‘Galkynyş’ field development has also commenced, involving the creation of facilities to process 10 billion cubic metres of marketable gas per year, as well as the drilling and commissioning of new gas wells. Geological exploration work continues in the sector using modern equipment and digital technologies, whilst cooperation with foreign oil and gas companies is expanding and investment is being attracted.
New gas fields in Turkmenistan are producing commercial volumes of gas
20.08.2026Turkmenistan’s oil and gas industry continues to increase hydrocarbon production and develop new fields. New commercial natural gas flows have been achieved both at fields in the Turkmen sector of the Caspian Sea and in regions across the country, according to the online news site AsmanNews. Production well No. A8 at the ‘Magtymguly’ field is yielding a flow of over 1.3 million cubic metres of natural gas and around 130 tonnes of gas condensate per day. The well, which is 4,981 metres deep, was drilled in the ‘Block 1’ contract area under the Production Sharing Agreement between ‘Petronas Carigali Sdn. Bhd.’ and the State Concern ‘Türkmennebit’. Work on developing the field is currently ongoing. Over 30 years of cooperation in the Turkmen sector of the Caspian Sea and the coastal zone, five modern platforms have been constructed and around 40 exploration, appraisal and production wells have been drilled. Joint production has exceeded 44 billion cubic metres of gas and 16 million tonnes of liquid hydrocarbons. The new phase envisages the development of offshore blocks 19 and 20, as well as the conduct of 2D seismic surveys on blocks 11, 12, 13 and 14. New gas inflows have also been recorded at fields in the regions. In the Mary velayat, at well No. 04 of the ‘Ýylan’ field, a daily inflow of methane gas in excess of 700,000 cubic metres was recorded. At well No. 265 of the ‘Çemmerli’ field in the Central Karakum gas condensate complex, at a depth of 1,200 metres, a commercial gas flow of 150,000–200,000 cubic metres per day was achieved. These results reflect the ongoing development of gas fields and the expansion of drilling operations in Turkmenistan’s oil and gas sector.
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