EBRD expects first investment deals in Turkmenistan
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) expects the emergence of the first concrete investment projects in Turkmenistan under a memorandum of cooperation with the Central Bank of Turkmenistan. EBRD Head of Turkmenistan Eric Livny said this in an exclusive interview with the Trend news agency.
According to Livny, the agreement with the Central Bank is likely to have the fastest practical impact among the five memoranda signed between Turkmenistan and the EBRD in July 2026.
The memorandum provides a basis for resuming direct EBRD financing for private companies that are export-oriented and generate their own foreign-currency revenues. According to the bank's representative, the first concrete deals are expected in such areas as manufacturing, agribusiness, logistics and export-oriented services.
A number of visits by EBRD banking teams to Turkmenistan are planned to identify potential projects and prepare investment proposals. At this stage, the bank's specialists will hold consultations with representatives of the private sector and examine opportunities for further financing.
Another area the EBRD expects to develop in the near future is cooperation with local financial institutions. The bank is exploring the possibility of partnering with selected Turkmen banks to expand lending to small and medium-sized businesses. The initiative is also expected to introduce international banking expertise and trade-finance instruments.
The other memoranda signed in July also provide for further cooperation. However, according to Livny, moving them toward concrete investment projects will require more technical work. These areas include transport, sustainable development and urban development.
In particular, the EBRD previously reported potential investments in Turkmenistan's railway infrastructure and logistics services as part of the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor. The bank is considering opportunities to modernize individual sections of the railway network, increase the capacity of freight infrastructure and improve the efficiency of logistics operations. (trend.az)
The EBRD has been working with Turkmenistan since 1992. According to the bank, during this period it has financed 87 projects in the country, with total investments reaching €322 million. Currently, the EBRD's activities in Turkmenistan are focused primarily on supporting the private sector and cooperating with financial institutions. (ebrd.com)
In July 2026, EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso visited Turkmenistan. Following the visit, the sides signed five memoranda covering strategic cooperation for 2027–2032, the banking sector, sustainable energy, environmental protection and water-resource management, transport corridors, as well as Ashgabat's participation in the EBRD's Green Cities programme. (anews.az)
