Turkmenistan Reaffirms Commitment to EU Cooperation at High-Level Economic Forum in Brussels
Brussels, The Gulf Observer: Deputy Minister of Finance and Economy of Turkmenistan, Babaniyaz Yalakov, participated in the EU–Central Asia High-Level Dialogue on Economic and Financial Cooperation held on May 12–13 in Brussels. The forum brought together senior officials from Central Asian countries, representatives of EU institutions, and international financial organizations to enhance regional economic cooperation.
During the plenary session, Deputy Minister Yalakov outlined Turkmenistan’s strategic vision for broadening cooperation with the European Union. He emphasized the need for multilateral engagement in sectors critical to sustainable development, including infrastructure, renewable energy, digital transformation, water management, and the extraction and processing of critical raw materials. His remarks were delivered in the context of the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, as noted by the Embassy of Turkmenistan in Belgium.
The dialogue, held under the auspices of Poland’s presidency of the EU Council, provided a platform for constructive exchanges between EU and Central Asian delegations. The Turkmen delegation took part in targeted working sessions with representatives from the European Investment Bank (EIB), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and JEFIC — the network of leading European development finance institutions.
Discussions focused in particular on the advancement of the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor and the implementation of green energy projects, including pilot initiatives exploring hydrogen energy solutions.
At the forum’s concluding session, Turkmenistan’s Ambassador to Belgium, Sappar Palvanov, reiterated the country’s openness to cooperation with European development banks. He underlined Turkmenistan’s interest in attracting international investment and promoting economic diversification in line with the country’s long-term development strategy.
The outcome of the forum reaffirmed Turkmenistan’s commitment to deepening its dialogue with the European Union and strengthening collaborative efforts in building sustainable infrastructure and fostering inclusive economic growth.
