Turkmenistan, EU discuss trade, transport, and diplomatic cooperation

ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, January 21.
Turkmenistan and the European Union (EU) discussed the current
state and prospects for developing bilateral cooperation in trade
and economic sectors, particularly in the energy and transport,

Trend reports via the Turkmen MFA.

The issues were discussed on January 21, during a meeting
between the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, Rashid
Meredov, and the EU Special Representative for Central Asia,
Eduards Stiprais, who arrived in Ashgabat to participate in events
as part of the United Nations Special Programme for the Economies
of Central Asia (SPECA) Week.

The sides expressed interest in expanding the
political-diplomatic dialogue and the legal framework of
cooperation, as well as the development of cultural and
humanitarian cooperation. In this context, the parties discussed
organizing high-level meetings and visits during the current
year.

In addition, they exchanged views on current and planned
projects and programs at the regional level, involving Central
Asian countries.

Earlier, in October 2025, on the sidelines of the Global Gateway
2025 Forum in Brussels, Turkmenistan’s Minister of Finance and
Economy, Mammetguly Astanagulov, met with European Commissioner for
International Partnerships, Jozef Sikela, and discussed
preparations for the upcoming first-ever EU-Turkmenistan Business
Forum, which is planned for next year, and invited Commissioner
Sikela to personally participate in the event.

SPECA is a UN initiative launched in 1998 to boost regional
cooperation and integrate Central Asian nations into the global
economy, focusing on sustainable development in areas like water,
energy, transport, trade, and digital transformation, providing a
platform for these landlocked countries to tackle shared challenges
like economic diversification and connectivity. Supported jointly
by UNECE and ESCAP, its members include Afghanistan, Azerbaijan,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and
Uzbekistan.

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