Attracting Investment for Central Asian Infrastructure Discussed at the Tianshan Forum in Almaty
A delegation from the Cabinet of Ministers and the Ministry of Finance and Economy of Turkmenistan participated in the 2nd Tianshan Forum on Economic Cooperation in Central Asia. The regional dialogue platform in Almaty brought together approximately 400 delegates, including heads of economic agencies from countries in the region (Azerbaijan, China, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan), representatives from international financial institutions, the expert community, and the SCO Secretariat.
The event was organized by the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Institute and the Ministry of National Economy of Kazakhstan, in partnership with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and with the support of the Export-Import Bank of China and the administration of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the PRC.
The primary focus of this year’s discussions was "Strengthening Sustainable Connectivity and Quality Investment." Delegates addressed issues related to enhancing economic connectivity among Central Asian nations, fostering a favorable environment for attracting investment, implementing joint projects, and expanding interregional cooperation.
Charymukhammet Shallyev, Director of the CAREC Institute, emphasized that analytical research and economic policy development should deliver direct benefits to businesses and local communities by leveraging the region’s collective potential.
Representatives from the Asian Development Bank’s leadership highlighted a shift in the global development landscape toward "quality capital"—financing for projects capable of withstanding external economic shocks and expanding cross-border engagement.
For Turkmenistan—which is actively developing its transit-logistics system and trade-economic ties within the CAREC framework—participation in the forum offers new opportunities to attract private investment into digital and transport infrastructure.
Building on the legacy of the inaugural Tianshan Forum, held in Urumqi in 2025, the dialogue in Almaty reaffirmed the role of the CAREC program as an effective platform for aligning the national investment strategies of its ten member countries.
