On February 28, 2025, National Leader of the Turkmen People, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov met with World Bank Vice President for the Europe and Central Asia Antonella Bassani, World Bank’s Regional Director for the Central Asia region Ms. Tatiana Proskuryakova and the International Finance Corporation Regional Director for Central Asia and Türkiye Ms. Wiebke Schloemer.

Expressing gratitude for the meeting, the guests noted the high achievements and economic reforms of Turkmenistan. Ms. Antonella Bassani conveyed warm greetings to Hero-Arkadag from the head of the World Bank.

The guests also highly appraised the domestic and foreign policy of Turkmenistan and emphasized the important role of neutrality and international initiatives of the country in strengthening peace and stability on Earth. Sincere congratulations were expressed to Hero-Arkadag and all Turkmen people on the 30th anniversary of neutrality of Turkmenistan.

Having greeted the representatives of the World Bank system, Hero-Arkadag thanked for the warm words and expressed his best wishes to the World Bank leadership. The National Leader of Turkmen people expressed confidence that the upcoming meetings during the visit will contribute to a productive exchange of views on the current state and prospective fields of economic cooperation between Turkmenistan and the World Bank, and wished them success.

It was noted that the expansion of international cooperation, in particular, the intensification of relations with reputable financial organizations and banking-credit structures, plays an important role in the implementation of the economic development strategy of Turkmenistan.

Hero-Arkadag emphasized the effectiveness of the partnership between Turkmenistan and the World Bank. It was emphasized that in recent years the World Bank has participated in financing a number of projects of high importance for the sustainable socio-economic development of Turkmenistan in such areas as healthcare, education, transport, communications, and energy.

The transport sector is one of the most important strategic areas for Turkmenistan. Particular attention is paid to the coordination of various modes of transport and for this purpose measures are being taken to create multifunctional regional and international transport corridors in the North-South and East-West directions.

In this regard, the need to intensify international trans-Caspian transportation and use the existing potential was noted.

Hero-Arkadag emphasized that the International Sea Port of Turkmenbashi, connecting the European and Asian regions, has great potential for increasing transit capacity. Turkmenistan’s readiness to expand mutually beneficial cooperation with the World Bank and consider its proposals regarding projects on creating transport corridors was confirmed. At the end of the meeting, the National Leader of Turkmen people, Hero-Arkadag and representatives of financial structures expressed confidence that fruitful cooperation will be successfully continued and exchanged best wishes.