AGP Executive Report

CIS Summit in Ashgabat: Turkmenistan’s CIS chairmanship is on display as Prime Ministers Bektenov (Kazakhstan) and Ali Asadov (Azerbaijan) attend the Council of Heads of Government meeting, with Turkmenistan’s President Serdar Berdimuhamedov holding pre-summit talks with Bektenov on trade, transit, energy and agriculture. Regional Climate Push: Civil society is feeding into the climate agenda after the 8th Central Asian Climate Change Conference, with UN/CAREC-linked discussions stressing climate justice, adaptation and youth involvement. Water & Biodiversity Planning: Turkmenistan is moving to update its National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (2026–2030) and is also under the spotlight for water stress, including assessments of the Amu Darya and ecosystem impacts. Energy Reality Check: A fresh look at summer electricity shortages raises concerns about how power imbalances could hit daily life. Diplomacy & Governance: Turkmenistan and Belarus are deepening ties through parliament and foreign-ministry consultations, while Ashgabat hosts EAG parliamentarians focused on anti–money laundering and cybercrime. Culture & Soft Power: Turkish Cuisine Week kicked off in Ashgabat, blending diplomacy with sustainable, “waste-free” culinary messaging.

Diplomacy & Parliament: Turkmenistan’s Mejlis chair Dunyagozel Gulmanova met Belarus’s Natalya Kochanova in St. Petersburg, focusing on deeper interparliamentary ties, lawmaking exchanges, and support for youth and women MPs. Climate & Biodiversity: UNDP and the British Embassy co-led a climate partners meeting in Ashgabat as Turkmenistan prepares its updated Paris climate reporting, while UNDP seminars are updating the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan for 2026–2030. Anti–Money Laundering Push: Ashgabat hosted the 5th EAG Parliamentarians Forum, spotlighting reforms to fight money laundering and terrorist financing, including digital tools. Urban Spotlight: UN-Habitat says it is considering opening a project office in Ashgabat after WUF13, as the city gears up for White City Ashgabat 2026. Health in Extreme Heat: UNFPA ran a seminar on how extreme heat affects women’s reproductive health and how care should adapt. Water Pressure Context: New reporting flags Turkmenistan’s extremely high freshwater withdrawal per person, driven mainly by irrigation agriculture.

Water Stress Spotlight: Turkmenistan has topped an international ranking for the world’s highest annual freshwater withdrawal per person—driven mainly by irrigated agriculture, especially cotton, with over 3,631 cubic meters pulled per resident each year and vast diversions from the Amu Darya tied to the Soviet-era irrigation system that helped fuel the Aral Sea disaster. Urban & Civil Society Push: In Baku for WUF13, CAREC and Turkmen NGOs joined sessions on inclusive cities and decision-making, while UN-Habitat signaled it may open an Ashgabat project office—an effort that lines up with White City Ashgabat 2026. AI & Heat Adaptation: UNDP supported work on Turkmenistan’s draft AI strategy, and UNFPA ran a seminar on extreme heat’s impact on women’s reproductive health. Regional Energy Corridors: Broader coverage continues to frame resilience around multi-route energy planning, with Türkiye highlighted as an emerging hub for alternative flows.

Urban Diplomacy: UN-Habitat says it may open a project office in Ashgabat, announced at the World Urban Forum in Baku—an early sign that Turkmenistan’s city agenda is drawing deeper international support ahead of White City Ashgabat 2026. AI Strategy Workshop: UNDP and Turkmenistan’s communications ministry reviewed and validated priority areas for a National AI Strategy, focusing on governance, digital infrastructure, and responsible, inclusive AI for the public sector. Heat and Women’s Health: UNFPA ran a seminar on extreme heat’s impact on pregnant women, training specialists on diagnosis and adapting care at primary healthcare level. Smart-City Showcase: At WUF13, an Arkadag official highlighted “smart” and “green” city features, from seismic sensors to accessibility-focused traffic design. Regional Energy Context: Russia and China discussed the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline in Beijing, while broader regional talks keep circling energy corridors and resilience. Water Pressure Backdrop: A week of coverage also kept spotlighting Central Asia’s water stress, with a major Tajikistan–UN water crisis conference set for Dushanbe next week. White City Ashgabat 2026 Build-Up: The capital is gearing up for the 24–25 May event, with UN roundtable themes on resilient, smart, connected cities.

Smart Cities Spotlight: At WUF13 in Baku, Turkmen officials highlighted Arkadag as the country’s “only Smart City,” stressing safety tech like seismic sensors, smart traffic lights, and accessibility features for visually impaired pedestrians. Urban Development Push: Turkmenistan is also gearing up for White City Ashgabat 2026 (24–25 May), with plans for 650+ delegates and a focus on building a resilient, smart, globally connected capital. Regional Water Focus: Tajikistan and the UN will host a major water-crisis conference in Dushanbe (May 25–28), underscoring how shrinking supplies could raise health risks and cross-border tensions across Central Asia. NGO Diplomacy: Turkmen NGO representatives joined Global South and Turkic States civil-society forums in Baku, keeping climate and inclusive urbanization on the agenda. Health & Education Links: Turkmenistan’s delegation is in Geneva for the World Health Assembly, while education officials are in London for the Education World Forum, including climate-resilience and digital learning themes.

Health Diplomacy: Turkmenistan’s Deputy Health Minister Azat Ovezov is in Geneva for the 79th World Health Assembly, holding talks with WHO chief Tedros and formally inviting him to visit Turkmenistan in October 2026. Education & Climate Skills: A Turkmen education delegation is in London for the Education World Forum 2026, highlighting climate-resilience and environmental education, plus digital learning and university performance upgrades. Urban Sustainability Push: Turkmenistan is gearing up for Ashgabat’s White City Ashgabat 2026 (24–25 May), with final preparations and new international sponsor momentum, including Daewoo E&C joining as a Gold Sponsor. Water Stress Warning: A major regional explainer flags Central Asia’s mounting water risk from glacier melt, drought and aging infrastructure—linking water directly to food, power, health and stability. Forced Labour Scrutiny: An EU-ILO-linked effort targets cotton-sector child and forced labour, while older reporting says conditions have worsened again.

Istanbul Textile Push: ITM 2026 is gearing up to welcome the global textile industry to Istanbul on 9–13 June 2026, with organizers expecting 1,000+ companies from 55 countries and highlighting easier access for visitors including Turkmenistan. Sustainable Cities Countdown: Ashgabat is in final prep mode for “White City Ashgabat 2026” (24–25 May), positioning the event as a major international meeting on architecture, innovation, and sustainable urban development, with 650+ delegates from 55 countries. Forced Labour Pressure: A new ILO–EU project targets child and forced labour risks in Turkmenistan’s cotton sector, running 2026–2027 with a €2m budget. Regional Security Talks: Kazakhstan hosted a Central Asia–China law-enforcement format meeting where Turkmen officials discussed cross-border crime, cybercrime, extremism, and trafficking. Water Stress Spotlight: Coverage across the region keeps returning to the Syr Darya and Amu Darya crisis—whether cooperation can prevent future instability.

Security Diplomacy: Kazakhstan’s President Tokayev met China’s public security minister and interior ministers from Central Asia and China in Astana, pushing joint action against transnational crime, cybercrime, drugs, and extremism. Urban Sustainability: Turkmenistan’s Arkadag city construction chief Deryageldi Orazov used the WUF13 stage in Baku to argue that cities are now the core of the global economy—setting up Ashgabat’s “White City Ashgabat 2026” as a major follow-on platform. Forced Labour Watch: A new EU–ILO project targets child and forced labour in Turkmenistan’s cotton sector, with a 2026–2027 plan focused on labour law, standards, and oversight. Water & Skills: A regional workshop in Tashkent advanced training for integrated water resources management across Central Asian universities, including Turkmenistan. Culture & Tourism: A dog-breed exhibition in Turkistan highlighted Turkic-linked heritage, while older coverage notes Turkmenistan’s cautious opening to tourism.

Forced Labour Crackdown: The ILO and the EU are launching a €2m project to tackle child and forced labour in Turkmenistan’s cotton sector, focusing on labour law updates, international standards, and stronger oversight for 2026–2027. Water Skills for the Future: A Tashkent workshop helped Central Asian universities, including Turkmenistan’s, build integrated water resources management courses from bachelor to postgraduate levels, with new modules on watershed and groundwater modelling. Turkic Security Debate: Kazakhstan pushed back on turning the OTS into a military alliance, stressing the bloc is meant for trade, tech, culture, and people-to-people ties. Regional Connectivity Momentum: Older coverage continues to point to expanding corridor plans—digital and transport—linking Turkmenistan with wider Eurasian routes.

Afghan Transit Push: A new argument is making the rounds that Afghanistan could shift from a “corridor of chaos” to a profitable commercial conduit—linking Central Asia’s energy and resources to South and East Asia’s huge demand, if instability and border blockages ease. Turkic Business & Diplomacy: The US–Turkic Republics Business Alliance launched in New York, while Azerbaijan’s Arkadag construction chief met Ilham Aliyev in Baku on the sidelines of WUF13. Regional Connectivity: Uzbekistan and Russia are working on a Trans-Afghan railway feasibility study, and Turkmenistan is hosting the CIS Railway Transport Council meeting as transport corridors stay a central theme. Sustainable Development on the Ground: Turkmenistan held environmental outreach for schoolchildren and is preparing for White City Ashgabat 2026 (24–25 May), with international partners lining up. Human Rights Watch: A week of coverage also includes renewed criticism of forced-labour risks in cotton and the wider impact of US aid cuts on rights work.

Business Diplomacy: The US–Turkic Republics Business Alliance has launched in New York, aiming to connect entrepreneurs from the Turkic world—including Turkmenistan—with American partners and investment projects, with cooperation already involving about 500 companies. Regional Integration: Kazakhstan and Türkiye are pushing deeper cooperation across energy, trade, transport and technology, while Britain moves to expand ties as Kazakhstan ratifies a strategic partnership deal—signals of a wider push to tighten Eurasian links. Culture & Conservation: A British director has spent days filming the Central Asian tortoise in Kazakhstan’s harsh Ustyurt Plateau, spotlighting a rare species and the short window when it’s active. Turkmenistan on the Move: Turkmenistan’s international calendar stays busy: observer status at ICESCO, more tourism opening for foreigners, and education and environmental events for schoolchildren. Sustainability & Food Security: The week also featured renewed focus on food security and modernizing agriculture with international support, as regional water stress and climate pressures keep rising.

World Football, Local Costs: A new wave of criticism is swirling around the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with claims of “fleecing” tied to pricing, service gaps, and the risks facing fans trying to travel into the US. Regional Diplomacy: Turkmenistan’s KazanForum-linked diplomacy keeps moving—Turkmenistan was granted ICESCO observer status, while the Mejlis hosted a constitution-focused conference with international participation. Sustainable Cities & Industry: Ashgabat is gearing up for White City Ashgabat 2026 (May 24–25), adding major international construction partners as it pushes “architecture, innovation, sustainable development.” Transit & Rail: Turkmenistan also hosts CIS railway talks, while Uzbekistan and Russia continue work on a Trans-Afghan railway feasibility study. Environment & Food Security: A Turkmen university ran an environmental event for schoolchildren, and separate reporting highlights worsening water and food pressures across the region. Human Rights Watch: A fresh report argues US aid cuts damaged global rights work—an echo of wider pressure on civic and humanitarian support.

White City Ashgabat 2026: The “White City Ashgabat” forum is adding heavyweight industry partners, with Gap İnşaat and Rönesans Holding joining as Silver Sponsors for 24–25 May—signaling a push to link construction, smart infrastructure, and sustainable urban plans to international investment. Regional Connectivity: Turkmenistan is also keeping transport diplomacy front and center: the 84th CIS Railway Transport Council meeting is underway in Ashgabat, while Uzbekistan and Russia continue work on a Trans-Afghan Railway feasibility study. Education & Environment: A Turkmen university hosted an environmental event for schoolchildren, and Turkmenistan’s education ties with Japan are expanding, including STEM and green technology training. Tourism Openness: A new report says Turkmenistan is easing some rules for foreign visitors, even as locals face tighter limits. Biodiversity Pressure: Persian leopards remain critically endangered across borders, with retaliatory killings still a major threat.

Trans-Afghan Rail Push: Uzbekistan and Russia are drafting a feasibility study for a Termez–Mazar-i-Sharif–Kabul–Peshawar rail corridor, reviving an idea first mapped in 2021 after earlier Afghanistan disruptions. Education & Green Skills: A Turkmen university in Ashgabat ran an environmental event for schoolchildren, while Japan talks focused on expanding STEM, AI, and green-tech education and teacher support. Tourism Rules Shift: A new report says Turkmenistan is easing some restrictions for foreign visitors—faster visas and fewer rejections—though locals still face tighter limits. Biodiversity Under Pressure: Persian leopards remain critically endangered across borders, with retaliatory killings and landmines still a major threat. Human Rights Watch Alarm: A new HRW report links US foreign-aid cuts to weaker global rights protection, and separate reporting highlights worsening forced labour in Turkmen cotton harvests. Water & Food Security: Coverage continues to warn that water governance failures are worsening climate impacts, while Turkmenistan seeks international help to bolster food security.

Wildlife Under Pressure: Fewer than 1,100 Persian leopards remain, with most in Iran, as retaliatory killings, habitat fragmentation, and border barriers (including landmines) keep the species on the brink. Tourism Rules Shift: Turkmenistan’s opening to visitors is easing in practice—faster visa processing and fewer rejections—while foreigners still report limits on behavior like solo street photography. Food Security Push: Agro Pack Turkmenistan-2026 spotlights efforts to cut import dependence and stabilize supplies, with the FAO stepping up support as climate and transport disruptions bite. Forced Labour Spotlight: A new report says systemic forced labour in the cotton harvest worsened last year, despite earlier cooperation with the ILO. Water Governance Warning: A fresh commentary argues water is the climate era’s biggest governance failure—affecting food, energy, health, and stability. Diplomacy & Culture: Berdimuhamedov’s KazanForum appearances and Mejlis events keep the focus on international dialogue, law, and “smart” sustainable development.

Sustainable Cities Push: Ashgabat is gearing up for the 24–25 May “White City Ashgabat” forum on Architecture, Innovation, Sustainable Development, with UN-backed discussions on turning global ideas into local action and expected participation from IRENA’s director-general. Human Rights & Dialogue: In Tashkent, the China–Central Asia Human Rights Forum opened with a focus on rights through “high-quality development,” while an OSCE-linked conference in the same city weighed Central Asia’s next steps on security, climate, water, and connectivity. Transport Diplomacy: Turkmenistan is also hosting major rail talks this week, including the CIS Railway Transport Council meeting, as officials link corridor growth to the UN’s sustainable transport agenda. Green Jobs & Labour Standards: An EU-ILO project launched in Ashgabat targets child and forced labour prevention (especially in cotton) and support for decent work. Regional Energy & Digital Trade: Turkmenistan’s agenda continues with digital trade workshops in Ashgabat and broader regional energy cooperation discussions across Central Asia.