BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 25. Turkmenistan
will mark 35 years of independence on September 27, as the country
approaches a new stage of its development.
The anniversary comes amid active government efforts across key
areas of socio-economic development. On September 23, the Halk
Maslahaty of Turkmenistan held a meeting in Ashgabat chaired by
Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, making it
one of the key events ahead of the 35th anniversary of
independence.
The meeting addressed important issues of state and public life,
as well as further socio-economic development. President of
Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov highlighted ongoing efforts to
develop the country and outlined further tasks in his address.
Over 35 years of independence, Turkmenistan’s economy has
retained the oil and gas sector as one of its key industries while
expanding its industrial and production base. While the country’s
economy relied heavily on natural gas production and exports in the
early 1990s, gas is now also used as a foundation for developing
petrochemicals, power generation, and other industries. The
infrastructure of the gas sector has also changed significantly,
while the areas of raw material use have expanded.
One of the most notable projects has been the development of the
Galkynysh field, one of the world’s largest gas fields. At the same
time, Turkmenistan has developed petrochemical capacities,
including the production of polyethylene, polypropylene, urea and
other higher value-added products.
“One of the key tasks is to modernize the activities of the oil
and gas sector based on advanced achievements. Large-scale projects
are being implemented on a programmatic basis for the production,
processing and export of hydrocarbon resources, as well as the
development of new fields,” President Serdar Berdimuhamedov said
during his speech at the September 23 meeting of the Halk
Maslahaty.
Another area of development has been transport infrastructure.
The country has built the Turkmenbashi International Seaport, new
railway lines and other facilities designed to expand its capacity
for cargo transportation and access to international markets.
The scale of the economy is also reflected in current
indicators. According to the World Bank, Turkmenistan’s GDP stood
at about $68.7 billion in 2024, while the economy grew by 6.3% in
2025. Thus, the country’s economic base has expanded significantly
over the years of independence, with new industrial production,
energy capacities and transport infrastructure developing alongside
extractive industries.
One of the most notable elements of Turkmenistan’s foreign
policy over the years of independence has been its status of
permanent neutrality. The UN General Assembly first recognized
Turkmenistan’s permanent neutrality in 1995 and reaffirmed the
status through a separate resolution in 2015. In March 2025, the UN
General Assembly adopted a resolution on Turkmenistan’s permanent
neutrality for the third time, recognizing the country’s
contribution to strengthening peace and security in the region.
Neutrality has become not only a foundation of the country’s
foreign policy but also an important area of its diplomatic
activity. In particular, Turkmenistan has promoted preventive
diplomacy, peaceful dialogue and international cooperation.
Over the years of independence, Ashgabat has also hosted
international meetings and negotiations on regional issues. The
2025 UN General Assembly resolution specifically noted
Turkmenistan’s role in the inter-Tajik negotiations in 1995-1996
and its efforts to facilitate dialogue on the situation in
Afghanistan.
The country’s international activity has also developed within
the UN framework. Turkmenistan has initiated international
resolutions focusing on neutrality and its role in maintaining
peace, security and sustainable development. In May 2026, the UN
General Assembly unanimously adopted another resolution on the
subject, co-sponsored by 47 countries.
Ahead of the 35th anniversary of independence, Turkmenistan’s
authorities have outlined not only achievements but also tasks for
the coming years. Speaking at the September 23 meeting of the Halk
Maslahaty, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov said that the country
needed to bring its socio-economic development to a new level.
Further industrialization remains one of the key priorities.
Turkmenistan plans to adopt a National Industrial Development
Strategy for 2030-2045, which is expected to establish long-term
development priorities for the industrial sector.
The implementation of major energy and infrastructure projects
will also continue. These include the fourth phase of development
of the Galkynysh field, construction of new oil and gas facilities,
road development, and modernization of existing infrastructure.
At the same time, the government plans to expand the use of
modern technologies and develop digitalization, science and
entrepreneurship. In the social sphere, further plans include the
construction and modernization of education and healthcare
facilities, as well as the development of new residential complexes
and settlements.
Against this backdrop, the Asian Development Bank (ADB)
maintained its September forecast for Turkmenistan’s GDP growth at
6.3% in 2026 and 6.2% in 2027.
Speaking at the September 23 meeting of the Halk Maslahaty,
President Berdimuhamedov said: “As a result of increased production
across the sectors of the economy, the GDP growth rate remains at
the established level. It is expected that by the end of the
current year, this macroeconomic indicator will amount to
6.3%.”
Turkmenistan enters its 35th anniversary of independence with
accumulated experience and projects implemented over the past
decades. The continued implementation of the priorities outlined by
President Serdar Berdimuhamedov in industry, energy, transport, and
digitalization is reflected in the expansion of the country’s
economic and infrastructure base and creates a foundation for the
next stage of development.
