IFT2026 Investment in the future of Turkmenistan

The Plenary Session of IFT 2026, titled “The Private Sector as a Driver of Sustainable Development of Independent and Permanently Neutral Turkmenistan,” will set the strategic tone of the Forum. It will reflect on the role of the private sector in the national development agenda and its growing contribution to economic diversification, resilience, and long-term growth.

The session will highlight the results achieved over 18 years of development of the private sector within the 35 years of Independence of Turkmenistan. Private enterprises and industrialists have become a key pillar of economic growth by creating jobs, developing competitive domestic production, substituting imports with high-quality local products, and expanding export-oriented industries. Particular attention will be given to the role of entrepreneurship in industrial development, infrastructure, agriculture, services, and the integration of modern technologies and management practices.

The Plenary Session will serve as a high-level platform for dialogue between the state, international partners, and business leaders on how to further strengthen the private sector as a strategic partner in achieving sustainable development goals. It will outline priorities for investment, public–private cooperation, and international partnerships, setting the framework for practical discussions and agreements throughout IFT 2026.

The Forum’s first panel session will explore the vital interaction between the state and private sector, titled “Public-Private Partnership and State Support: The Foundation of Economic Resilience.” This session will highlight how strategic collaboration drives innovation, efficiency, and economic growth.

PPPs represent a unique synergy where public authority meets private expertise and investment. They enable faster, cost-effective delivery of critical infrastructure and services, such as hospitals, roads, and utilities – while allowing governments to share project risks, optimise resources, and ensure high-quality outcomes through long-term partnerships.

The session will examine how PPPs strengthen economic resilience, showcase successful projects, and provide a platform for exchanging insights on future initiatives, demonstrating that collaboration between public and private actors is a cornerstone of sustainable development.

The second session of the Forum will focus on the role of Turkmenistan’s industrialists and entrepreneurs in strengthening agricultural development and ensuring national food security. Titled “The Potential of the Private Sector in Developing the Agricultural Sector and Its Role in Ensuring Food Security,” the discussion will highlight how private initiative underpins stable supply and long-term resilience across the agro-food system.

The session will examine how entrepreneurs are advancing crop production, livestock breeding, agro-processing, and value-chain integration, supported by modern technologies, investment, and efficient management practices. Particular attention will be given to the creation of necessary enabling conditions and infrastructure, including irrigation systems, veterinary services, storage facilities, cold chains, logistics, and quality control systems, that are essential for sustainable productivity and food security.

Bringing together leading experts and officials from Turkmenistan and abroad, the session will provide a platform to exchange best practices, identify priority investment areas, and outline practical pathways for strengthening food security through innovation, infrastructure development, and effective public-private cooperation.

From transport corridors that connect markets to modern factories that power industry, infrastructure is the engine that turns economic potential into tangible growth. The Forum’s third session, titled “The Private Sector and Infrastructure: Investment in Construction, Industry and Transport,” will examine how the integrated cycle of industry, construction, and transport underpins national development and social progress.

The discussion will explore how private investment is driving industrial expansion, modern construction practices, and transport and logistics connectivity, strengthening supply chains, improving regional integration, and enhancing productivity. Emphasis will be placed on scalable projects, innovative financing models, and the role of modern infrastructure in enabling trade and mobility.

The session will conclude by outlining priority investment opportunities and partnership models that can catalyse sustainable infrastructure development, demonstrating how strategic private-sector participation translates into long-term economic resilience and improved quality of life.

The first quarter of the 21st century marked the opening chapter of the digital era, where data became capital, and artificial intelligence began reshaping how economies compete. What once seemed experimental is now strategic, redefining productivity, governance, and investment landscapes worldwide.

This session under title “Digital Turkmenistan: Developing the National Economy and Improving the Investment Climate” will explore how digitalisation – spanning AI, automation, e-commerce, fintech, smart logistics, and e-government – is transforming business models and unlocking new sources of competitiveness. The discussion will focus on building digital ecosystems, modern regulatory frameworks, and secure digital infrastructure that enable innovation, efficiency, and transparency across the economy.

The Forum’s final session will examine priority reforms, investment opportunities, and partnerships that position digital transformation as a catalyst for sustainable growth and an attractive, future-ready investment environment.