IfG.CC -
Institute for eGovernment

The importance of the digitalization process in Turkmenistan stipulates the transition to the fourth industrial revolution and the sixth technological mode, Trend reports referring to the Altyn Asyr newspaper.

'A round table on the Digital Economy Development Concept in Turkmenistan was held at the Academy of Public Administration under the President of Turkmenistan, the message said.

Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, made a working visit to Arkadag City, where he held a meeting with relevant officials and reviewed infrastructure projects.

During the meeting, the Chairman of the State Committee for the Construction of Arkadag City extended congratulations to the National Leader of the Turkmen people on behalf of the city's population for receiving three awards at the World Smart City Expo in the Republic of Korea.

“The use of latest achievements and high technologies, improving efficiency of public administration, introduction of e-Government will become an important factor in the further progress and confident progressive development of the Turkmen society,” Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said on Friday, signing a corresponding resolution.

Auch Turkmenistan ist jetzt wieder drin: Zwei Tage nach der Vereidigung des neuen Präsidenten Gurbanguly Berdymuchammedow haben in dem abgeschotteten asiatischen Land am Freitag die ersten beiden öffentlichen Internet-Cafes geöffnet.

In aller Stille und ohne Werbung, wie ein Angestellter des staatlichen Telekommunikationsunternehmens TurkmenTelekom einräumte, der sich daher auch nicht über die ausbleibende Kundschaft wunderte.

In his keynote address at the inaugural session of TurkmenTEL 2012 at Ashgabat, Kapil Sibal, minister for communications & IT, government of India recalled historical ties between India and Turkmenistan and emphasized the need for regional cooperation to uplift the social and economic status of the people in the region.

President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov determined the deadlines for completion of the digitalization process in the country by October this year and emphasized the importance of creating conditions for the functioning of e-Government system.

President noted that the transition of print media from traditional paper to digital form and Internet versions is one of the priorities of digitalization of the Turkmen media.

During the conversation, Rustam Minnikhanov expressed confidence that bilateral cooperation between Turkmenistan and Tatarstan would be strengthened, noting the success of projects for the purchase of equipment manufactured by KAMAZ and development of oil wells in Turkmenistan by oilmen of Tatarstan. "We need to develop a number of other projects in the field of shipbuilding, aerospace, tourism," the president of Tatarstan said. According to him, Tatarstan's companies are currently developing several alternative projects for the establishment of gambling zones in the territory of Turkmenistan's national tourist zone "Avaza".

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport (MOLIT), which is officially accompanying President Yoon Suk-yeol on his state visit to three Central Asian countries – Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan – has agreed to expand existing construction and infrastructure cooperation with resource-rich Turkmenistan to include new areas such as new towns and smart cities. Additionally, they aim to strengthen collaboration in transportation sectors, including aviation and railways.

Given Turkmenistan's abundant natural gas resources, which rank fourth in the world in reserves, it is expected to commission large-scale plant construction projects to expand production. Both countries are also signing various agreements to concretize this cooperation.

On the occasion of Ashgabat City Day, 24th International Exhibition and Conference “White City Ashgabat” will be held in Turkmenistan’s white-marble capital on May 24-25, 2025. This unique platform will bring together business communities, international experts, architects, urban planners, government officials, and representatives of the private sector. More than 400 delegates from 30 countries have confirmed their participation in the international conference. The key highlight of this spring will be the International Conference “White City Ashgabat”, dedicated to the International Year of Peace and Trust, held under the theme: “Inspire, Create, Unite!”

Arkadag, the first «smart» city in the region, was created in one of the most beautiful corners of the country - in the foothills of the Kopetdag Mountains on the initiative of the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty Hero-Arkadag and under the leadership of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov. The best traditions of national architecture, modern trends in urban development and design are harmoniously combined in this unique city, which has a special legal status of a city of national importance. It is also worth noting that the city has a developed infrastructure that meets international standards in the field of ecology and nature conservation. The construction of the city has become the highest indicator of the socio-economic development of Turkmenistan.

Countries worldwide are investing billions to develop future cities, motivated by global challenges such as the housing crisis and climate change. The Line, a striking 500-meter skyscraper designed to accommodate nine million residents in northwestern Saudi Arabia, is one such initiative.

Additional examples include Telosa in the USA, BiodiverCity in Malaysia, and Egypt's New Administrative Capital. One recently finished smart city is Arkadag in Turkmenistan, Central Asia

One such anecdote goes like this: Getting anything accomplished on the web is about as convenient as using a mobile phone tethered to a desk.

According to the report, the president talked about the change during a video conference with the participants of a workshop meeting on further improving the government's electronic document control, currently being held in Ashgabat.

Berdimuhammadov stressed the need to introduce "this advanced method in all sectors of the national economy".

Turkmenistan is ready to expand international cooperation in the field of digitalization and green technologies.

This was stated by the Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov, speaking at the 70th session of the UN Economic Commission for Europe dedicated to digital and green transformation.

Berdymukhamedov first voiced the idea in April 2010, instructing Turkmen specialists “to study international experience in the relevant area.” He followed that by establishing an IT unit to guide e-government implementation.

Aware that his country is far behind in terms of egovernment, the president has made efforts to pinpoint the hurdles and has made moves to overcome some of them. He ordered computer literacy courses for government employees, students and schoolchildren at the beginning of this year, for example.

The president of Turkmenistan on Thursday officially inaugurated a vast, multibillion-dollar development hailed as the country's first “smart city” and named after the president's father, who established a pervasive cult of personality when he was the longtime ruler.

The city designed for 70,000 is named Arkadag (Protector), a title used by former president Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, who led the country for 15 years before being succeeded last year by his son Serdar.

The Mejlis (Parliament) of Turkmenistan has given the green light to a resolution that will see 65 hectares of land make the leap from Ashgabat to the administrative territory of Arkadag city, Trend reports.

This strategic initiative is designed to catalyze the urban economic ecosystem, optimize governance frameworks, and augment the city’s infrastructural capacity. This aligns with the statutory framework established by the legislative provisions governing the administrative-territorial delineation within the jurisdiction of Turkmenistan.

According to the report, starting from June 17, the Turkmen State Migration Service starts issuing new biometric passports to Turkmen citizens with Russian passports as well.

Turkmenistan will explore the possibilities of introducing 5G technology in the country.

According to an official source, this proposal by Mammetkhan Chakiyev, Director of the Agency for Transport and Communications under the Cabinet of Ministers, was approved by President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov at the next online meeting of the government.

“Former President Saparmurat Niyazov could promise something and forget all about it – unlike Berdymukhamedov, who keeps his word and moves toward his proclaimed goal step by step,” Vitaly Shukurov, 40, a programming engineer from Ashgabat, said.