Today, the International Conference and Exhibition «International Transport and Transit Corridors: Interconnection and Development – 2024» began its work.

The international forum, which is being held in the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, is attended by about 600 representatives from more than 40 countries. Among them are representatives of relevant public and private structures, international organisations such as the UN, OSCE, World Bank, as well as diplomatic missions accredited in Turkmenistan, and the media.

Among the guests are representatives of international logistics and forwarding companies - «Fly Dubai», «Cargo Lux», «Lufthansa Consulting», the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), the International Road Transport Union (IRU), the Organization for Cooperation between Railways (OSJD), the USAID Program in Central Asia, etc.

The forum is also attended by Deputy Chairmen of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan, heads and representatives of a number of ministries and industry departments.

The guests were greeted with song and music performances by masters of the arts of the country.

Then the welcoming address of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov to the participants of the international conference and exhibition was read.

The pavilion introducing the first «smart» city Arkadag, which has no analogues in the region, created on the initiative of the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and thanks to the efforts of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, aroused great interest among the participants of the exhibition. In our country, great importance is attached to the introduction of advanced technologies and experience in the transport and communications sector, increasing the range of digital services, and modernizing the communications infrastructure. The pavilions of the agencies «Türkmenawtoulaglary», «Türkmendemirýollary», «Türkmendeňiz-derýaýollary», «Türkmenhowaýollary», «Türkmenaragatnaşyk» widely reflect the achievements in this direction.

The Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran, Kerki-Ymamnazar-Akina railways, modern railway and automobile bridges across the Amyderya testify to the enormous transport and transit potential of our country.

In this regard, the commissioning in September of this year with the participation of the National Leader of the Turkmen People Hero-Arkadag on the Turkmen-Afghan border of the 177-meter railway bridge of the Serhetabat-Turgundi steel highway, the beginning of the construction of the Serhetabat-Herat fiber-optic communication line, called «Arkadagyň ak ýoly», a warehouse complex in the dry port of the Turgundi railway station and the Turgundi-Sanabar section of the first stage of the Turgundi-Herat railway confirms that the work carried out in the country to develop this system is continuous. It should be noted that Turkmenistan regularly purchases airliners and expands its network of international airports. These include the capital's international airport with a capacity of 1,600 passengers per hour, as well as international harbours in the cities of Turkmenabat and Kerki in the Lebap velayat.

The exhibition also presented the main activities of the business society «Türkmen halkara awtoulagly daşaýjylarynyň assosiasiýasy», the open joint-stock company «Türkmenistanyň ulag-logistika merkezi», the closed joint-stock company «Deňiz söwda floty».

In the afternoon, the work of the forum continued with an international conference. The heads of specialized structures of our country, foreign countries, as well as authoritative organizations spoke at the plenary session.

The speeches noted that in the era of the Revival of the new epoch of the powerful state, great importance is attached to the modernisation of the country's transport and communication system, the expansion of mutually beneficial international partnership. In strengthening the legal foundations of transport diplomacy and the potential of the state's transport industry, improving and implementing legislation in this area, an important role is given to the «Program of the President of Turkmenistan for the Development of Transport Diplomacy for 2022-2025». In his speech, the General Secretary of the International Road Transport Union (IRU) Umberto de Pretto noted the fruitful nature of cooperation with Turkmenistan and that it was a great honour for him, as the head of the Organization, to take part in this important event dedicated to sustainable transport corridors.

Speaking on the digital system, Chairman of the Organisation for Cooperation of Railways M. Antonovich expressed words of gratitude to the Turkmen side for holding the forum, the opportunity to participate in it and emphasised the importance of the UN General Assembly Resolution on declaring the 26^th of November, at the initiative of Turkmenistan, as World Sustainable Transport Day.

The speakers were unanimous in the opinion that the forum will create an opportunity for further expansion of international cooperation in the field of sustainable transport and will clearly demonstrate the importance of Turkmenistan in the development of international transport and transit systems.

Then the conference continued in the sections «Transport and Transit Corridors and Intermodal Communication» and «Financing Sustainable Transport Systems».

In addition, today, the UN event on road safety «Safe Roads for All» was held within the framework of the forum. As noted, independent neutral Turkmenistan constantly promotes the development of international cooperation in the transport sector and makes a significant contribution to the creation of a modern specialized infrastructure, which is the most important condition for global sustainable development, economic cooperation and safe transportation of goods by road.

The large-scale work carried out in Turkmenistan to modernize the transport system indicates that concern for the safety and well-being of people is one of the priority areas of the policy implemented under the leadership of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov.

The forum will conclude on the 27^th of November.