On 7 September 2026, the 11th International Training Course “Caspian Sea – Sustainable Development and Management” commenced at the Archabil Hotel in Ashgabat. The course is organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, the Caspian Sea Institute and the International Ocean Institute. About this reports MFA of Turkmenistan. 

The opening ceremony was attended by UN Resident Coordinator in Turkmenistan Xiaojuan Grace Wang, Managing Director of the International Ocean Institute Antonella Vassallo, Course Director Dr. Parvin Farshchi, leading expert on marine spatial planning Dr. Andrey Abramich, and Director of the Caspian Sea Institute of Turkmenistan Myrat Atajanov.

The speakers emphasized the important role of the training course in strengthening regional cooperation and developing the professional capacity of specialists in the sustainable use and conservation of the Caspian Sea. The course has been held in Turkmenistan since 2013 and brings together representatives of all five Caspian littoral states.

Particular attention during the course is devoted to international maritime law, as well as environmental issues concerning the Caspian Sea. In this context, the relevance of the course is further underscored by the proclamation of 2028 as the “International Year of International Law, 2028” under UN General Assembly resolution 80/295, initiated by Turkmenistan and adopted by consensus on 24 July 2026, with 78 States joining as co-sponsors.

Over the years, 175 specialists from Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia and China, representing various fields related to the Caspian Sea, have completed the training programme.

This year, the programme places particular emphasis on the environmental state of the Caspian Sea and issues related to its shallowing.

The International Training Course will continue until 18 September 2026.