Turkmenistan, Italy seek new horizons in energy, transport, and industry cooperation

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni extended an open invitation to Turkmenistan’s President Serdar Berdymukhamedov to visit Italy at his convenience, according to the official publication Neutral Turkmenistan, following their meeting in Astana.

Both leaders were in Astana for the inaugural Central Asia–Italy summit. During their discussions, they highlighted the steady growth in bilateral trade and economic cooperation, especially within the oil and gas sector, transportation, and textile industries, driven largely by business entities. The newspaper noted that mutual trade turnover has been rising every year.

President Berdymukhamedov emphasised the vast potential for expanding collaboration in areas such as energy, chemical manufacturing, railway infrastructure, environmental protection, agriculture, and water resource management. He expressed Turkmenistan’s openness to considering Italy’s proposals in these fields.

To better organise trade and economic ties, Berdymukhamedov suggested establishing a joint framework — either an intergovernmental commission or a business council.

Prime Minister Meloni affirmed Italy’s commitment to deepening cooperation in these sectors.

Additionally, Berdymukhamedov reminded that on December 12, Ashgabat will host a high-level forum including heads of state, governments, and international organisation leaders. This significant event will mark the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s neutrality as well as the International Year of Peace and Trust.

He also invited Meloni to participate in this upcoming forum.

By Tamilla Hasanova