Ashgabat, January 30 | ORIENT. President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov signed a decree approving the State Program for the Development of the Digital Economy for 2026–2028. This document effectively launches a new stage of the country's industrialization, where the implementation of innovation and AI plays a key role.

From Digitalization to Artificial Intelligence. The fundamental distinction of the new program will be the development and implementation of a National Strategy for the Development of Artificial Intelligence. As Deputy Prime Minister Mammetkhan Chakyev announced during a Cabinet meeting, the document envisages not only the application of AI technologies in production but also the creation of a comprehensive system for training a new generation of IT personnel.

Action Plan for 2026–2028. The approved Action Plan will serve as a roadmap for all ministries, agencies, and municipalities. The program's key areas include:

Innovative Transition: Transitioning key economic sectors to digital management.

Human Capital: Systematic professional development for specialists in Data Science and algorithmic design.

Competitiveness: Creating high-tech industries capable of competing in regional and global markets.

While previous stages of digitalization focused primarily on automation and infrastructure development, the 2026–2028 program aims to "intellectualize" the economy. The focus on AI places Turkmenistan on par with global players who see neural networks and machine learning as the only way to achieve a quantum leap in labor productivity.