A meeting was held in Ashgabat between the leadership of the Ministry of Railway Transport of Turkmenistan and a delegation from the European Investment Bank (EIB), during which the parties moved to detailed discussions on the technological and financial modernisation of the sector. The Minister Mammet Akmammedov and Head of the EIB’s Asia, Central Asia and Pacific Department, Edvardas Bumšteinas, considered the prospects for signing a Framework Agreement between Turkmenistan and the EIB. The agreement is scheduled to be signed on 26 March as part of the Turkmenistan–EU business forum in Ashgabat and will provide access to the Bank’s financial instruments.

Key priorities for the Turkmen side include the digitalisation of dispatch systems, automation of cargo tracking, and modernisation of infrastructure in line with European standards. Of particular focus is the upgrade of the Ashgabat–Dashoguz railway line, for which investments and grant funding are being considered to prepare a comprehensive feasibility study.

EIB representatives confirmed the Bank’s readiness to participate in project implementation, highlighting the successful experience of railway modernisation in the region. Both sides expressed confidence that the upcoming forum will mark the start of a new phase in the development of Turkmenistan’s railway infrastructure.

Source: www.orient.tm