Koneurgench Etrap Recognized as the Best in the Country and Awarded $1 Million
Ashgabat, February 14 | ORIENT. Turkmenistan has officially named the leading district demonstrating the best socioeconomic development indicators by the end of 2025. Koneurgench Etrap of Dashoguz Velayat has been declared the winner of the prestigious state competition. Along with the honorary title, the regional administration will receive a substantial bonus—$1 million from the State Golden Age Development Fund.
The winner is the result of a rigorous selection process based on dozens of indicators, ranging from the pace of digitalization of production to the quality of medical services. However, Koneurgench's victory is deeply symbolic.
As President Serdar Berdimuhamedov noted in his address, this region, located at the crossroads of the Great Silk Road, has always been a place of creation. Today, ancient minarets and mausoleums, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, stand alongside state-of-the-art infrastructure. The crowning achievement of last year was the new village of Bitaraplyk, opened for the 34th anniversary of independence: 400 comfortable homes, schools, celebration centers, and modern businesses.
What are they giving a million for?
In 2025, the Kunya-Urgench etrap became a true driving force in the Dashoguz region:
Agricultural sector: Consistently high yields of wheat, cotton, and melons.
Infrastructure: Construction of new highway bridges and world-class social facilities.
Economy: Launch of environmentally friendly production, successfully replacing imports.
Relay Race 2026: The Race for Leadership Continues
Kunya-Urgench's success has become a signal for the entire country—the President has already signed an order launching a new competition based on the results of 2026. The conditions remain the same, as does the grand prize of $1 million.
A special commission has been formed to monitor the progress of each etrap throughout the year. This creates healthy competition on the ground: each region strives to introduce innovations, build better roads, and create new jobs, so that their name will be featured in the holiday decree next year.
Kunya-Urgench has set a high bar. The heirs of the great architects of the past have proven that they know how to build a future worthy of their history.
