Today, an International Conference “Arkadag City – the Beautiful Natural Corner with Environmental Wellbeing” was held here in a hybrid format.

The forum was attended by the Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers in charge of the agricultural sector, heads and representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection, specialists of environmental protection structures and industry departments, the scientific community, universities and public associations of the country, as well as heads of reputable international and regional organizations accredited in Turkmenistan.

Among the issues being discussed are the improvement of the legislation that is in force in the country in the field of the environment, the main vectors of cooperation with international organizations in this area, the measures taken to combat climate change and adaptation, ensure environmental wellbeing and prevent desertification, as well as the importance of growing environmentally friendly products.

As noted, the protection of nature, the introduction of new, environmentally friendly technologies, the green economy, digital system, ensuring environmental safety in the country and the region are among the main directions of the state policy pursued by President Serdar Berdimuhamedov.

As it is known, in February of the current year, a United Nations technical mission visited Arkadag city. Having familiarized with the features of the city based on the concept of smart city, on advanced information and communication technologies, through which a single ecosystem is created that ensures the management of the city, UN experts highly appreciated the work done.

In his speech, the UN Permanent Coordinator in Turkmenistan Dmitry Shlapachenko emphasized that international conferences held on the occasion of the opening of the country’s first smart city provide an opportunity to discuss current problems of functioning and provision of such cities, taking into account all aspects of sustainable development – economic, social and environmental.

It was stated that Arkadag city can become a promising platform for piloting innovations not only in the economy and social sphere, but also in the field of environmental protection.

Deputy Permanent Representative of UNDP Tomica Paovich stressed the readiness to support and develop partnership with Turkmenistan in the field of promoting smart green urban ecosystems, as well as to share knowledge and experience to create a joint ecological system in which new technologies and innovative solutions will be applied.

Zafar Mahmudov, Executive Director of the Regional Environmental Center of Central Asia, congratulated online all participants of the conference and the Turkmen people on the significant event – the opening of the smart city of Arkadag, noting that this event is evidence of the creative energy of the Turkmen people.

It should be noted that in October 2022, a seminar “Organic Melon Cultivation and Its Contribution to Ecology” was held near Arkadag city, which became a large-scale open-air event. Here, with the application of theoretical knowledge gained in practice, more than 500 seedlings of the “kishmish black” grape variety were planted.

Another confirmation of the growing authority of the Homeland in the world, the universal recognition of its remarkable successes, was the largest lesson on ecology included in Guinness World Records, held in Turkmenbashi city in August, 2019.

The forum placed special emphasis on the importance of protective forest belts and the improvement of the ecological condition of agricultural lands, the introduction of advanced water-saving technologies in countries with arid climates.

The speakers noted that an environmental program is being successfully implemented in Turkmenistan, forest zones are being created everywhere that promote improving the climate, preserving and increasing biodiversity.

So, in November of the last year, as a result of the joint efforts of the participants of the mass gardening campaign, which took place in an atmosphere of unity, more than 5,000 seedlings of various types of trees were planted on the territory of Arkadag city. This noble action is of particular importance in terms of improving the ecological situation and creating a favorable environment.

The international recognition of Arkadag city is evidenced by its inclusion in the project “Development of sustainable, green, climate-friendly cities with innovative solutions in the OSCE regions”, as well as the presentation of international certificates confirming the achievements of the new city in various fields on the day of its opening.

An exhibition of agricultural products was launched in the foyer of the administrative building of the Agricultural Complex of Arkadag city.