Central Asia Sees Record Growth in Attractiveness for Global Capital
A delegation from Turkmenistan—led by the country's ambassador to the UAE and including representatives from the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Industry, and the State Bank for Foreign Economic Affairs—has concluded its participation in the 15th AIM Congress (Annual Investment Meeting) in Dubai. The forum brought together approximately 25,000 delegates and over 500 speakers from 191 countries, serving as a premier global platform for analyzing trends in advanced technologies, the digital economy, and green finance.
A key focus for the Turkmen participants was the specialized session titled "Central Asia: Regional Strategy for Leveraging Complementary Strengths," organized by UN ESCAP in partnership with the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC).
The growing interest of global institutions in the region is backed by data: the volume of new foreign direct investment (FDI) projects in Central Asia rose from $12 billion in 2022 to a record $27 billion in 2025, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. Notably, 48% of the announced projects were concentrated in the extractive industries.
During the session, experts and officials from the region’s countries examined strategies to redirect capital inflows from the raw materials sector toward the creation of complex value chains, the development of free economic zones, and the strengthening of cross-border logistics. On the sidelines of the forum, the Turkmen delegation also held a series of working meetings with representatives from international financial institutions and investment agencies.
