TIF 2026 Unveiled Investment Roadmap for Turkmenistan’s Multimodal Hub
The third session of the Turkmenistan Investment Forum (TIF 2026), focused on the development of sustainable transport systems and logistical connectivity, brought together heads of relevant ministries, international experts from the World Bank and the European Union, and representatives of transnational businesses. Moderated by Babaniyaz Yalakov, Deputy Minister of Finance and Economy of Turkmenistan, the session participants examined in detail the key directions for modernizing the country's transport infrastructure—a strategic crossroads for the North-South and East-West transport and transit corridors.
Speaking at the session, Mammet Akmammedov, Minister of Railway Transport of Turkmenistan, emphasized that multi-billion-dollar state investments are being directed toward the comprehensive renewal of rolling stock and the modernization of key railway hubs, interchange stations, and border crossings.
The ongoing transformations are strengthening the country's role as an effective bridge connecting Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. Particular emphasis is placed on the Kazakhstan–Turkmenistan–Iran railway line—which provides the shortest route for Central Asian nations and Russia to access Persian Gulf ports and Indian markets—as well as on integrating these rail networks with the Trans-Caspian route.
The agency is actively implementing electronic document management, digital waybills, and unified real-time cargo tracking platforms to create seamless supply chains. Concluding the address, the head of the agency invited delegates to participate in the International Conference and Exhibition "International Transport and Transit Corridors:
“Interconnectivity and Development – 2026,” which will take place in Ashgabat on November 24–26 and coincide with World Sustainable Transport Day.
Azat Shanazarov, Chairman of the State Service of Maritime and River Transport of Turkmenistan, outlined the maritime and port-related components of the country’s logistics system. Central to the Caspian region’s transport strategy is the Turkmenbashi International Seaport, which boasts state-of-the-art infrastructure for handling all types of dry and liquid cargo.
Alongside the implementation of modern digital port operation management systems and electronic data exchange, the localization of industrial shipbuilding and ship repair stands out as a key area for investment cooperation.
The Turkmen side expressed its readiness to jointly implement projects at the Balkan Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Yard and to develop logistics centers and warehouse complexes at the intersection of maritime, rail, and road routes, all while strictly adhering to environmental standards for the protection of the Caspian Sea waters.
