Islamabad – The Turkmenistan Investment Forum (TIF 2025) was officially inaugurated on 18 September 2025 in the National Tourist Zone “Awaza,” marking a significant step in the country’s continued efforts to attract and facilitate foreign direct investment. This high-level international event brought together over 800 delegates from 45 countries, including senior government officials, heads of international corporations, executives from global investment banks, and renowned experts from across various sectors.
The Forum was formally opened with a keynote address delivered on behalf of the President of Turkmenistan, His Excellency Mr. Serdar Berdimuhamedov, by the Minister of Finance and Economy. The President’s message underscored Turkmenistan’s strategic commitment to fostering a favorable investment climate and expanding international economic cooperation.
The opening day featured a high-level plenary session titled “Investment Attractiveness of Turkmenistan as a Factor of Strategic Efficiency,” moderated by Mr. Dmitry Shlapachenko, the UN Resident Coordinator in Turkmenistan. The session brought together distinguished speakers, including Ms. Beatriz Luz Maser Mallor, Executive Director of the World Bank, and Ms. Rabab Fatima, UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), and Small Island Developing States.
In her address, Ms. Rabab Fatima commended Turkmenistan’s leadership in advocating for the needs of LLDCs and recognized the significance of the Forum as a continuation of the momentum generated by the Third UN Conference on LLDCs, successfully hosted in Awaza last month. She highlighted the promising investment landscape of LLDCs—characterized by young populations and untapped renewable resources—and outlined several global UN-led initiatives designed to unlock these opportunities, including the Infrastructure Investment Financing Mechanism, a Global Business Network, and a Digital Investment Guide.
Additionally, Ms. Fatima announced a detailed roadmap comprising 319 specific projects, programs, and initiatives aligned with the Awaza Programme of Action for the Decade 2024–2034. She emphasized that forums such as TIF 2025 serve as vital platforms for building strategic partnerships to transform LLDCs into dynamic, sustainable, and resilient economies.
Among other notable speakers was Professor S. Frederick Starr, who called on the global investment community to diversify beyond traditional sectors like oil and gas. He emphasized the significant potential in transport infrastructure and agriculture, specifically referencing the strategic importance of the TAPI pipeline and the vast agricultural capacity in Turkmenistan’s northern regions.
Throughout the two-day event, investors and stakeholders will be presented with a wide range of investment-ready projects across key sectors of the Turkmen economy, including energy, transport and logistics, construction, finance, innovation, and climate-resilient agriculture. Special emphasis is being placed on public–private partnerships, green and digital transformation, and sustainable development models.
TIF 2025 has garnered substantial international backing, with more than 50 partner organizations and sponsors, including leading institutions such as the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and the United Nations, along with major global corporations like Daewoo E&C and John Deere.
The Embassy of Turkmenistan in Islamabad takes great pride in the successful organization of this landmark event and reaffirms its commitment to strengthening economic, trade, and investment relations between Turkmenistan and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The Forum not only showcases Turkmenistan’s readiness to engage with the global investment community but also underscores the country’s role as a vital regional hub for sustainable development and international cooperation.
BY: Embassy of Turkmenistan Islamabad, Islamic Republic of Pakistan
