The formation of a patriotic, highly educated, erudite, physically and morally healthy, intelligent young generation is one of the strategic tasks for the development of Turkmenistan in the Epoch of the Revival of a new era of a powerful state, clearly identified by President Serdar Berdimuhamedov.

Taking into account the huge determining role in the further sustainable and comprehensive socio-economic development of the Fatherland, strengthening its leadership positions in the world arena, youth is a priority of national and state interests.

The youth policy pursued by the President of the country is aimed at creating the most favorable conditions for the formation, development and personal growth of young Turkmen citizens, expanding opportunities for the maximum realization of their intellectual, creative and spiritual potential in the interests of society and the state.

The main directions of the national strategy include provision of legal and social protection of young people, popularization of the spiritual, moral and cultural values inherent in the Turkmen people, principles of a healthy lifestyle, education of patriotism, humanism, civic responsibility, as well as support and encouragement of youth initiatives.

State policy in this area is inextricably linked with the activities of the Magtymguly Youth Organization of Turkmenistan, which is the largest public association in the country that defends the interests of young citizens.

From the day of its foundation, namely from November 16, 1991, the Youth Organization has been fruitfully working to educate a physically strong and spiritually rich, hardworking, talented, devoted to the Motherland generation, for more than 30 years it has been successfully fulfilling the tasks of consolidating its members, directing their strengths and abilities, knowledge and outlook on the development of an independent Motherland.

On the day of the formation of the Youth Organization, it has become a good tradition to celebrate the title of "Laureate of the Youth Prize of Turkmenistan" to young people who have made a worthy contribution to strengthening state sovereignty and the development of the country, who have achieved great success in work and creativity.

Speaking to the participants of the VII Congress of the Magtymguly Youth Organization, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov identified a set of significant and specific tasks, as well as the main directions of work of this public association in line with the state youth policy and national development strategies.

Among them: ensuring the legal and social protection of youth, promoting among young people the spiritual, moral and cultural values, traditions and customs of the Turkmen, the principles of a healthy lifestyle, fostering patriotism, civic responsibility, diligence, developing creative abilities, as well as supporting personal growth, participation in public associations, encouragement of youth initiatives, including entrepreneurial ones.

The most important tasks that determine the fate of the Fatherland and the happy future of the people include the need to instill in young people the desire for constant enrichment of knowledge, understanding the trends of world development is also named. The main goal of the activities carried out should be the formation of a generation with a broad outlook, versed in high technologies, the head of state noted, calling for the creation of all conditions for in-depth study of foreign languages by young people, classes in literature and art, and regular holding of creative competitions. The main principle should be the commitment of young people to integrity and family values, the President of the country emphasized.

In order to successfully implement these tasks, on September 1 this year, during the congress of the Magtymguly Youth Organization, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov signed the Law of Turkmenistan "On State Youth Policy" in a new edition.

It should be noted that Milli Gengesh developed a new Law at the suggestion of the head of state. Its adoption was greeted in society as an event of historical significance, reflecting the realities of the time and opening up new opportunities for the implementation of large-scale transformations of the modern era, which are to be carried out by the young generation of the country.

Speaking at the congress, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov emphasized: "Well-informed, educated, healthy youth is a powerful force, a bright future for our state."

The Milli Gengesh of Turkmenistan involved representatives of ministries and sectoral departments, political parties, public organizations to prepare the draft of the new version of the Law “On State Youth Policy”. The opinions and proposals of the general public, and especially young Turkmen residents, were analyzed and taken into account.

The project reflects the wise ideas and valuable proposals put forward by the Hero-Arkadag at a historic meeting held on June 14, 2022 at the Congress Center with the participation of young people and dedicated to improving the legislative framework for the state youth policy. Recall that the Chairman of the Halk Maslakhaty Milli Gengesh, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, also raised this topic during working trips to the regions, meetings with students and young soldiers.

As Arkadag noted during a September 4 visit to the State Energy Institute of Turkmenistan in Mary: “In this regard, the meetings with young teachers and students of the Turkmen State Agricultural Institute, the Turkmen State Pedagogical Institute named after Seyitnazar Seydi were especially impressive for me.”

The main goal of the new Law is to ensure the active participation of young people in the economic, political and cultural life of our independent Motherland, the creation of favorable legal conditions for educating the younger generation in the spirit of the original spiritual and moral traditions of the people, true patriotism, humanism and diligence.

The new legislative document significantly strengthens the legal basis of the youth policy pursued in the country, and is also intended to help expand the opportunities created for young people.

For the first time, the Law of Turkmenistan “On State Youth Policy” was adopted on August 29, 2013, and amendments and modifications were made to it in March 2017. In January last year, the State Program on the State Youth Policy of Turkmenistan for 2021–2025 was approved, within its framework practical steps are being taken to ensure the most favorable conditions for the formation and development of the younger generation of Turkmen citizens, expanding opportunities for the maximum realization of its intellectual, creative and spiritual potential in the interests of society and the state.

The new edition of the Law of Turkmenistan "On State Youth Policy" has been improved and enriched structurally and in content. The preamble, as well as some concepts used in the context of youth policy, have been redefined and redefined, a number of new concepts and modern norms have been introduced.

A new chapter “Patriotic education of youth” has been added to the document, which is associated with the expansion of educational and propaganda activities aimed at instilling in the young generation of Turkmen people a great love for an independent Motherland, pride in its achievements and in line with our national principles.

The age limits of people included in the definition of "youth" have been expanded to 35 years (previously this age was determined up to 30 years). Based on the requirements of the time and in order to educate young people in the spirit of national values, the definitions of goals, objectives, principles and main directions of youth policy have been expanded.

The Law also increased the list of participants in youth policy. In the new version of the document, the powers of the Ministry of Sports and Youth Policy, which carries out state regulation and control in this area, were transferred to the Ministry of Education and its powers were expanded.

The powers of other ministries and departments, local executive authorities and local self-government bodies that carry out state regulation and control in the field of youth policy are separately defined and set out in the Law.

State support for youth, the work of youth associations, international cooperation between youth and youth associations, as well as other norms in this area, have been improved in accordance with the requirements of the time. Foreign words used earlier in the Law have been replaced by Turkmen equivalents.

In order to ensure the economic independence of young people, their active participation in public, socio-economic and cultural life, a number of benefits are provided for the development of entrepreneurial initiatives, as well as for the realization of the rights and obligations of young citizens, their support from the state.

The new wording prescribes that if 75 percent of the employees of an enterprise founded by entrepreneurs are young people, it is called a “youth enterprise”, and legal opportunities have been created for state support of such enterprises.

Determining the rules for granting benefits to support youth enterprises is the responsibility of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan. In addition, it provides for the creation of a permanent (consisting of representatives of responsible institutions in the relevant areas) state group (commission) to support youth entrepreneurship.

The procedure for preferential payment of income tax in the first year of the period of employment in the amount of 50 percent by young specialists hired immediately after graduation from an educational institution, and 25 percent in the second and third years has been established.

Article 26 of the Law, in order to “achieve continuity of education and professional orientation among young people”, provides for a temporary deferral of young men who graduated from general educational institutions or special educational institutions from conscription for military service in accordance with the Law of Turkmenistan “On military duty and military service” “with the condition creation of a one-time opportunity to participate in entrance examinations in institutions of higher vocational and secondary vocational education”.

The same article of the Law states that young people who have completed military service by conscription will have “a priority right for admission to state vocational education institutions in case of successful completion of entrance examinations.”

Additions have been made to the new version of the Law related to supporting the participation of young people in the implementation of environmental projects and the restoration of historical monuments, stimulating their interest in historical and cultural heritage, environmental protection through the development of a domestic tourism system.

It should be noted that the document provides for advantages in providing housing for young professionals in need of better housing conditions.

Showing constant attention to the issues of youth, its legal and social protection, creation of conditions for physical, intellectual and creative development, Turkmenistan strives to comply with progressive practices and global trends.

In this regard, it is important to note that the youth policy is being implemented in our country in the context of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, within the framework of national legislation and on the basis of international principles. In the conditions of modern world political, economic and social processes, youth is becoming a strategic resource that determines the development of not only the country, but also the whole of interstate relations in the long term. As the President of Turkmenistan notes, with the achievements in the implementation of the youth policy, we ensure the sustainable development of our Motherland in the 21st century and build its future.

At the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers on September 2, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov emphasized the special role of the youth forum in the further development of the state youth policy. As noted, the Law approved during the congress creates ample opportunities for young people to fully develop their abilities in various areas of the life of our state and society.

The holding of the VII Congress of the Magtymguly Youth Organization and the approval of a new version of the Law of Turkmenistan "On Youth Policy" in the year "The era of the people with Arkadag", on the eve of the celebration of the 31st anniversary of the independence of Turkmenistan, emphasizes the worthy contribution of young Turkmen citizens to strengthening the sovereignty of the Motherland, its permanent neutrality prosperity and further development of our country.