On February 23, decisive negotiations with a delegation from the European Investment Bank (EIB) began at the Ministry of Finance and Economy of Turkmenistan. The main goal of the two-day visit was to finalize the Framework Agreement, which will pave the way for major European investments in the country's strategic sectors.

This visit by the EIB delegation, led by Edvardas Bumšteinas, Head of the EIB Department for Asia, Central Asia, and the Pacific, was a logical continuation of the meeting between President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and the bank's management in Samarkand in April 2025. After almost a year of expert work, the parties have entered the final stretch of finalizing the document.

The partnership with the EIB covers key nodes of the region's new economy:

Transportation Framework: The EIB is ready to become a major investor in the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor. This includes not only physical infrastructure but also the digitalization of logistics within the framework of the SPECA Program (the "Roadmap" for Digital Corridors).

Green Energy Transition: The Bank has expressed interest in sustainable energy projects. For Ashgabat, this is an opportunity to leverage technologies to reduce the environmental footprint of hydrocarbon production and develop renewable energy sources.

Digital Transformation: The EIB views Turkmenistan as a promising platform for the implementation of digital government services and banking technologies.

Agriculture and Water Security: High-tech irrigation equipment and the construction of new hydraulic structures are a critical topic for the region, where the EIB is ready to offer its expertise.

Furthermore, Edvardas Bumšteinas met with Minister of Foreign Affairs Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov. On his social media accounts (X/Twitter and LinkedIn), Bumšteinas noted the "constructive dialogue on future cooperation between the EU and Turkmenistan" and thanked the Turkmen side for the warm welcome. During the conversation, they discussed not only the Framework Agreement but also Turkmenistan's overall role as a bridge between Asia and Europe.

Bumšteinas emphasized that the EIB sees Turkmenistan as a stable partner for long-term investments in "sustainable connectivity."