Continuing a series of publications dedicated to the significance of the upcoming Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), scheduled for August this year in the National Tourist Zone “Avaza,” it is important to especially emphasize the importance of the planned political-diplomatic, trade-economic, and cultural-humanitarian events within its framework. Such events often become a starting point for fundamentally new trends in global politics, stimulate serious negotiation processes, and lay qualitatively new foundations for interstate relations.

Once again, Turkmenistan has taken full responsibility for organizing and holding under the auspices of the UN a high-level representative forum addressing issues relevant to many states, the resolution of which requires a comprehensively balanced and coordinated approach, an alignment of positions and plans for the future—the future of countries without access to the World Ocean.

Turkmenistan’s position in this field of cooperation is based on the need to give it a systematic and targeted character, elevating the discussion of these issues from a regional platform to the level of the main international arena—the United Nations.

Another confirmation of this is the adoption at the 63rd plenary meeting of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly on April 11 this year of the Resolution on holding the United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries. It was co-sponsored by 57 countries.

To ensure a high level of the forum, intended to contribute to enhancing the economic potential of landlocked developing countries, boosting regional and international trade relations, the President of Turkmenistan signed a Resolution “On Holding the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries” at the Cabinet of Ministers meeting held on July 4 this year, instructing the relevant work in this direction.

Issues related to the organization of the mentioned Conference were comprehensively discussed at the meeting of the State Organizing Committee, held by the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty, Hero Arkadag Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, on July 13 in the NTZ “Avaza.”

Landlocked developing countries often face difficulties in transport, trade, and economic development due to their geographical isolation. The conference in Avaza is not just a diplomatic event but also an opportunity for 32 countries, representing more than 570 million people, to revise their development strategies, strengthen partnerships, find innovative solutions to overcome challenges, and unlock the potential of the LLDC states.

Accompanying events are also planned, including those dedicated to ground transportation and communications, which will be conducted by the participating countries, international organizations, institutions, as well as the Turkmen side.

Our country proposes to activate a comprehensive cooperation strategy to advance the Sustainable Development Goals in the year 2025, which marks the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan obtaining the status of permanent neutrality and the 80th anniversary of the founding of the UN. A decisive role in this is assigned to implementing two priorities: energy transformation and transport connectivity. This is mentioned in Concept of Activities and Priorities of Turkmenistan within the framework of the International Year of Peace and Trust.

Transport issues must take a permanent and solid place on the UN agenda as an independent area of the world Organization’s work. Turkmenistan’s policy is precisely aimed at giving dialogue on transport issues a systematic and consistent character.

The analysis of modern processes and prevailing trends in the global economy convincingly demonstrates that the development of transport and communications is acquiring increasingly important and defining significance. The optimization of transport and transit communications, the construction of modern infrastructure for delivering raw materials and finished products become key integrating factors, especially for countries without direct access to marine terminals.

In this context, the potential of new transport-transit hubs is immense: vast territories and human resources are involved, significant investments are made. All this creates opportunities to transform the transport segment into one of the locomotives of progressive processes in the global economy, guaranteeing a reduction in development gaps between countries and regions.

The development of transport and logistics infrastructure in landlocked countries, as the main factor in ensuring access to large world markets, economic integration, stimulating investment activities, optimizing export-import trade operations, increasing competitiveness, and raising living standards is a constant priority. Addressing this issue will contribute to strengthening business foundations for implementing many important projects in this sphere on the continent.

As a result of the large-scale reforms initiated by the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty Hero Arkadag Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, and successfully implemented under the leadership of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, corresponding work is carried out to modernize the country’s transport and communications infrastructure.

Recognizing the necessity for comprehensive development of the transport segment, which is becoming one of the main factors in the development of the global economy, Turkmenistan pays great attention to creating modern transport infrastructure, initiating and consistently implementing large projects of regional and continental significance together with interested partners—both individual states and reputable international organizations.

The agreement between the governments of Iran, Oman, Qatar, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan on creating an international transport and transit corridor functioning along the North–South and East–West directions (Ashgabat Agreement), the “Lapis Lazuli” Agreement on transit and transport cooperation, and the Kazakhstan–Turkmenistan–Iran railway line demonstrate the implementation of fundamental transformations for introducing the newest transport technologies. Within the framework of the International Transport Corridor "Europe–Caucasus–Asia" (TRACECA), reforms are being carried out to revive the Great Silk Road and modernize multimodal transportation.

Strengthening ties with international organizations in the field of transport is an important task of our time. In this area, our country interacts with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), International Air Transport Association (IATA), European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), International Road Transport Union (IRU), Organization for Cooperation of Railways (OSJD), International Maritime Organization (IMO), among others.

Under the leadership of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, long-term national programs have been developed and successfully implemented in the country, aimed at strengthening the material and technical base of the transport sector, expanding existing and creating new transport and communication networks designed to bring international economic and trade cooperation to a qualitatively new level. This will actively integrate Turkmenistan’s transport system into the international communication infrastructure and create large logistics centers ensuring regional coordination of multimodal transportation.

In recent years, unique engineering structures built using advanced technologies—railway and road bridges—have been commissioned throughout the country, contributing to the formation of important regional and interregional transport routes passing through Turkmenistan along the North–South and East–West directions.

The commissioning in September last year, with the participation of the Hero Arkadag, of the 177-meter railway bridge on the Serhetabat–Turgundi steel railway at the Turkmen-Afghan border, the start of construction of the Serhetabat–Herat optical fiber communication line, called “Arkadagyň ak ýoly”, the warehouse complex in the dry port of Turgundi railway station, and the Turgundi–Sanabar section of the first stage of the Turgundi–Herat railway confirm that the ongoing development work in this sphere is continuous.

The Trans-Afghan railway corridor project, which will connect Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, provides Afghanistan with a vital outlet to the seaports of the Indian Ocean. This is not just an economic project but also a tool for regional stabilization.

Currently, Turkmenistan’s railway sector is developing steadily—new enterprises have been opened, modern technological lines implemented, existing units equipped with state-of-the-art technology whose capacities have increased many times over, and a large batch of wagons and locomotives purchased. These assets will serve the rapidly developing national economy for many years to come.

Alongside this, the country is creating the necessary conditions for the activation of international air traffic, with a steady expansion of the geography of air routes. All this increases the contribution of the national airline to strengthening the homeland’s economy.

The construction of highways is also a priority. The high-speed Ashgabat–Turkmenabat highway is being laid at an accelerated pace. In April 2024, with the participation of the head of state, the Tejen–Mary section of this highway was commissioned.

The number of communication channels organized by high-tech optical fiber lines is growing annually. For example, in 2024, construction began of the optical fiber communication line along the Serhetabat–Herat route. This project will increase communication transit volume and ensure the laying of optical fiber through Afghanistan and Pakistan to India.

Turkmenistan is open to cooperation aimed at implementing mutually beneficial initiatives to improve national telecommunications infrastructure. Such interaction will promote the realization of the huge transit potential of Central Asian countries, the introduction of modern telecommunications services, and the successful development of information and communication technologies.

In his speech at the first “Central Asia–European Union” Summit held on April 4 this year in Samarkand, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov noted that transport and communications serve as strategic directions, with the key component being the creation of transport and communication lines running East–West and West–East.

Thus, today Turkmenistan makes a huge contribution to the expansion of international relations in the transport and communications sphere, which is an important part of the global economy.

Concrete proposals for optimizing transport flows and creating new transport and transit corridors have been repeatedly submitted for consideration at several major international forums and high-level meetings.

Among these is the Ministerial Transport Conference of Landlocked Developing Countries, held in August 2022 at the National Tourist Zone “Avaza” on the initiative of Turkmenistan and under the auspices of the United Nations.

In a video address to the participants of the ministerial forum, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov emphasized the important and defining role of transport and communications in the modern era. At the same time, the head of Turkmenistan drew the participants’ attention to the need to consolidate joint efforts and focus all interested parties on achieving swift and tangible results.

The head of state also put forward new international initiatives in this strategic sector for landlocked developing countries. These include the creation of a special working group under the auspices of the UN to purposefully advocate for the interests of LLDCs and to integrate this work into the system of relevant UN structures, as well as the development of a UN General Assembly resolution aimed at increasing the role of landlocked developing countries in the development of global transport cooperation. 

It was emphasized that such a document could provide a substantive impetus to advancing the interests of our states, demonstrate the significance and understanding of the relevant problems, and the world community’s commitment to solving them.

The Forum’s results were embodied in the adopted Final Statement, which noted the need for further consolidation of efforts to expand and coordinate regional interaction to create an effective transport system—a prerequisite for dynamic and stable economic growth and social development in landlocked countries.

Of course, this requires the presence of appropriate modern infrastructure, compliance with international standards of operation, and many other criteria and requirements, including for multimodal transportation. Turkmenistan is already carrying out large-scale work in this direction, and much has been accomplished in recent years, with important links in the region’s transport and communication network created. Their full operation will bring great benefits not only to our country and neighbors but also at the continental level.

President Serdar Berdimuhamedov defined the formation of a modern domestic maritime commercial fleet as one of the priority directions of state transport policy. Advanced maritime port infrastructure is capable of meeting not only existing but also prospective demand with quality services and high-class service. The port’s full operation will lead to radical changes in the logistics chains of continental freight transportation, with Turkmen transshipment terminals becoming an important hub as the most optimal for the shortest and most profitable routes.

The maximum utilization of the capabilities of the Turkmenbashi seaport, the specifics of delivering oversized and heavy cargo to the Caspian region by various types of transport, and their transit to other countries through our territory—all this will open a new chapter in cooperation, promoting Turkmenistan’s integration into the system of global economic relations.

The choice of the National Tourist Zone “Avaza” as the venue for the Conference is not accidental. Turkmenistan, occupying a strategic position in Central Asia, actively promotes initiatives for the development of transport corridors linking the region to world markets via the Caspian Sea.

Thus, resolving the issues placed on the agenda of the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), preparation for which is already underway, may become a new milestone in productive international dialogue, giving it a powerful impetus and substance.