The World Ambassador
The Turkmenistan Investment Forum (TIF 2025) officially opened on 18 September in the National Tourist Zone “Awaza,” drawing more than 800 delegates from 45 countries. The large-scale event aims to boost foreign investment and features participation from senior government officials, global corporate leaders, investment bankers, and renowned experts.
The Forum was inaugurated with a message from President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, delivered on his behalf by the Minister of Finance and Economy. The highlight of the opening day was the plenary session titled “Investment Attractiveness of Turkmenistan as a Factor of Strategic Efficiency,” moderated by UN Resident Coordinator Dmitry Shlapachenko. Keynote addresses were delivered by Beatriz Luz Maser Mallor, Executive Director of the World Bank, and UN Under-Secretary-General Rabab Fatima.
In her speech, Ms. Fatima praised Turkmenistan’s leadership in championing the interests of landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) and unveiled several new UN initiatives to mobilize investment. She noted that the Forum built on the momentum of last month’s Third UN Conference on LLDCs, also hosted in Awaza. Emphasizing the significant opportunities in LLDCs, she highlighted their young populations and abundant renewable resources as foundations for sustainable growth and innovation.
Ms. Fatima further announced the launch of an Infrastructure Investment Financing Mechanism, a Global Business Network, and a Digital Investment Guide. She also revealed that the UN, together with partners, has developed a roadmap of 319 projects and programs to advance the Awaza Programme of Action for 2024–2034. She underlined that international partnerships forged at events like TIF 2025 are essential to transforming LLDCs into resilient, self-sufficient economies.
Professor S. Frederick Starr, another keynote speaker, urged investors to expand their focus beyond oil and gas, pointing to opportunities in transport and agriculture. He stressed the importance of moving forward with the long-discussed TAPI pipeline and highlighted northern Turkmenistan’s advanced agricultural regions as key areas for expansion.
Over two days, the Forum will showcase investment-ready projects across strategic sectors of the Turkmen economy, including energy, logistics, construction, finance, and innovation. Special emphasis will be placed on public–private partnerships, digital and green transformation, and climate-smart agriculture.
The event’s international profile is underscored by the backing of over 50 official partners and organizations, including the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, United Nations, EBRD, as well as major global corporations such as Daewoo E&C and John Deere.
