On Thursday, May 1, President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov arrived on a working visit to the Balkan velayat, where he held an extended off-site meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers in the Avaza National Tourist Zone. The key topic of discussion was the large-scale preparations for the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) to be held in Avaza from August 5 to 8, 2025. This was reported in the news release of the Turkmen State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company.

The importance of the upcoming forum is emphasized by its high level and the composition of the expected participants. The conference will be held under the motto "Progress through Partnerships." Avaza will bring together the heads of state and government of 32 LLDCs, representatives of 47 small island states and 49 least developed countries. The UN Secretary General and his deputies are expected to arrive, as well as heads and representatives of many international and regional organizations, financial institutions, public associations and business circles. Such a representative composition makes this event one of the most important international platforms of the year at the global level.

At the meeting, heads of various fields presented reports that demonstrate the comprehensive nature and enormous scale of the work carried out in preparation for the forum. The head of state paid attention to all important aspects of organizing such a major event, including diplomatic, infrastructural, logistical, cultural, and informational.

The preparation process covers many areas:

Working meetings and negotiations with the relevant UN departments are held on a regular basis to resolve all organizational issues, including protocol support, transportation, communications, and visa formalities.

The official website of the conference, which will become an important information resource, has been launched in test mode.

The main event will include an Interparliamentary Forum, which will expand the format of the dialogue.

Active work is underway to prepare the hotel infrastructure and service sector to receive numerous guests.

Construction, repair and landscaping work is underway at the Avaza sports complex, which will become the main venue for the upcoming forum and related events.

Particular attention is paid to the cultural program. National days are planned for each of the Central Asian countries to showcase their unique culture, art and cuisine.

In addition to the key topic of preparation for the UN conference, the meeting participants also reviewed the progress of other important projects in the Balkan velayat. Reports were presented on the final stage of construction of new facilities at the Turkmenbashi Oil Refinery Complex and the water treatment plant in the Esenguly etrap. The accelerated pace of construction of the bridge across the Garabogaz Gulf and the road leading to it, the modern village near the Turkmen Lake "Altyn Asyr", and the completion of the construction of a multifunctional power plant in the Kyzylarvat etrap were also noted.

A program of cultural events scheduled for holding in the Balkan velayat was presented. Among them is the international dance and folklore festival "Avaza - the Land of Friendship", which will be held in Avaza on June 2-7.

In the upcoming summer season, additional services will be organized on the Ashgabat-Turkmenbashi-Ashgabat route, regular bus services on the Balkanabat-Turkmenbashi International Airport, Turkmenbashi-Avaza Railway Station and Ashgabat-Avaza route, and new passenger services will be opened from the airports of Ashgabat, Dashoguz, Mary, Turkmenabat and Kerki to the Balkanabat International Airport, which is ready to open.

After the meeting, the President of Turkmenistan personally inspected the progress of construction and improvement of the venue for the Third UN LLDCs Conference. The head of state was presented with projects of the facilities being constructed and plans for landscaping the territory using various types of seedlings. In this regard, the President emphasized that the Avaza National Tourist Zone should make the most favorable impression on the numerous foreign guests who will arrive for the international conference, and gave specific instructions to ensure the highest level of preparation.

ORIENT