Turkmenistan at the International Transport Forum Summit in Leipzig
The Annual Summit of the International Transport Forum (ITF)—the world's largest gathering of transport ministers and the leading global platform for transport policy—is taking place in Leipzig, Germany, from May 6 to 8. This year, the forum, chaired by Azerbaijan, brought together over 1,000 participants, including transport ministers from 69 ITF member countries, heads of leading industry companies, and experts.
The summit's theme, "Financing Sustainable Transport," is the second part of the ITF's three-year program (2025–2027), which is entirely dedicated to transport resilience. In today's world, "resilient" refers to the ability of systems to continue functioning or quickly recover from external shocks, whether pandemics, cyberattacks, geopolitical instability, or climate change.
The participants focused on mobilizing investment and developing financing strategies to improve the long-term resilience of transport infrastructure. ITF Secretary-General Kim Young-tae emphasized the relevance of the discussion at a press conference. Citing the disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz as an example, he noted that such events urgently raise the need to improve the resilience of global transport systems. According to World Bank estimates, voiced by Kim, the cost of inaction in this area over the next decade could reach a colossal $1 trillion.
The ITF Secretary-General also emphasized that the organization actively assists governments in assessing risks and improving their preparedness to respond to geopolitical uncertainty. Artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as a key tool for achieving this goal. The adoption of AI by transport authorities was endorsed by ITF members last year, and a special ministerial roundtable was held in Leipzig to discuss the topic.
The Turkmen delegation at the forum is led by Suleiman Durdyev, Deputy Chairman of the State Service "Turkmenhovayollary." It includes representatives of the Cabinet of Ministers, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Railway Transport of Turkmenistan.
For our country, participation in the ITF is not simply a statement of presence, but a continuation of a consistent state policy to promote the principles of transport diplomacy. Amid the growing global risks discussed at the summit, Turkmenistan is focusing on the systematic diversification of international transport corridors and the comprehensive modernization of infrastructure.
Turkmenistan is actively working to digitalize the industry, implement innovative technologies (which directly correlates with the topic of AI at the forum), and develop environmentally friendly modes of transport. This allows the country to consistently strengthen its position as a crucial and, especially important in modern geopolitics, reliable transit hub in Eurasia, promoting economic stability throughout the region.
