Turkmen-British Business Meetings: A New Stage in Trade and Economic Relations
At present, Turkmenistan is going through a period of major industrial transformation: broad opportunities are being created in our country for the development of entrepreneurship, production capacities are increasing, innovations are being introduced consistently, the industrial sector is being diversified, the scope of international cooperation is expanding, and new horizons are opening in trade relations... These transformations show that the industrial and trade sectors of the economy are developing in a comprehensive, interconnected and effective manner. By creating a national model of business principles, Turkmen entrepreneurs are bringing their goods and services to international markets, which demonstrates the active development of trade and the further strengthening of regular relations with companies from foreign countries. The business visit of the Turkmen delegation to London, the capital of the United Kingdom, from 9 to 16 May also marked the beginning of a new stage in taking international trade to new levels, discussing future projects in various areas with British business circles, and entering the European market.
Entrepreneurship, business activity and trade cooperation are today considered an important condition for economic development and a driving force of foreign economic relations. The importance and turnover capacity of international trade are increasing year by year. It plays a key role in the coordinated implementation of export-import operations and in the development of diversification policy. In this regard, Turkmenistan has already accumulated rich experience as a country in the region with diversified industrial capabilities, a geographical position at the crossroads of intercontinental transport corridors, broad export directions and a comprehensive approach to business development.
The recent visit to London by the delegation headed by the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan was of historic significance for the development of national business. The fact that it took place on the eve of the visit of our Hero Arkadag to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland at the invitation of the Royal Family also demonstrates that relations between the two countries are advancing on a multifaceted basis. Dozens of private entities operating in various fields took part in the business visit, including «Ýigit», «Takyk Abzal», «Ynamdar Täjir», «Berkarar Ada», «Ýedi Ýer», «Tämiz gap», «Döwlet gurluşyk», «Ak hünji», «Güneşli syýahat» and others.
At the official opening ceremony of the Turkmen-British business meeting UK — Türkmenistan B2B Exchange 2026, held at the West London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, representatives of the two countries drew attention to the opportunities for developing industry and establishing trade and economic cooperation. In particular, views were exchanged on new opportunities for cooperation in textiles, agriculture, construction, education, tourism and other areas. Over the past years, Turkmen entrepreneurs have gained extensive experience in these fields, implemented major projects, supplied high-quality products to foreign markets and built pathways for long-term cooperation. Entering the European market with such potential is beneficial in every respect.
Flexible trade cooperation through digital platforms is one of the modern and effective areas for developing B2B business relations. In this regard, we spoke with Gurbanmuhammet Berdiyev, founder of «Ynamdar Täjir» Economic Society, who took part in the meetings and showed interest in the cooperation proposals of Turkmen enterprises for British businesspeople.
— Within the matchmaking programme prepared for our company, meetings and consultations were offered in areas such as business services, digital strategy, investment, banking, manufacturing consulting, corporate law, operations optimization and the development of banking infrastructure. Among them were companies such as «Launchese», «Consulio», «BTFV Venture Fund», «ECMO», «YORKCAP IB», «Manufacturing IQ», «Wellingtons Solicitors», «LEAN Solutions» and «EFG Bank». These areas are of great importance for the international development of our platform, strengthening its digital infrastructure, investment readiness and expansion of trade opportunities. The «📈ALSAT» platform can be a convenient way for British companies to test interest in Turkmenistan with a low level of risk. In trade, a good flow of information is half the deal, he said, emphasizing that digital B2B platforms will occupy an important place in future trade partnerships.
It should be especially emphasized that the state and private entities of our country have favorable conditions for cooperation with British companies. At all stages of this work, from production to trade and commodity circulation, they rely on best practices and international standards. By participating in international exhibitions held in our country and abroad, they present their goods and services that meet the world’s high quality standards and adopt the innovative production experience of foreign countries. As part of the visit, the international construction exhibition «UK Construction Week London 2026», organized at the «Excel London» complex, became another practical experience. There, the Turkmen representatives learned about achievements in innovative technologies, the use of artificial intelligence in construction, and new types of construction materials. This is important for exchanging experience in innovation for our country, which has an integrated production and construction infrastructure for the manufacture of construction goods and the construction of modern buildings.
The participation of well-known British companies such as «Range Rover», «Primark», «Shell», «Score», «APM Fresh», «Fieldfisher», «Make UK», «Berkeley Group», «Sanderson Design Group» and «Smart Currency Exchange» in the business meetings was significant. They highly appreciated the production and export capabilities of Turkmen entrepreneurs, as well as Turkmenistan’s active integration into the global economic system in recent years. Our country pays special attention to introducing innovations and modern technologies into industry and trade. It is guided by the Industry 4.0 model. The new horizons of such a powerful infrastructure are connected with expanding the scope of direct international trade and economic relations.
Business events related to the real estate sector held at the «Kia Oval» building in the British capital, the opportunities of the United Kingdom’s «UK Export Finance» system, and a special training seminar introducing the international standards required for exporting agricultural products to the British market, as well as certification systems such as «GLOBAL GAP» and «SEDEX», help Turkmen entrepreneurs study the British market. This creates favorable conditions for analyzing needs and presenting cooperation proposals.
— The business visit will, first of all, open the way for long-term cooperation in the future. It was a major opportunity for the Turkmen side to discuss entering the markets of the United Kingdom and Europe. There are particularly strong opportunities for cooperation in the textile and food industries. This business meeting is planned to be established as a recurring format and held annually on a bilateral basis. It will become a permanent bridge of business cooperation between Turkmenistan and the United Kingdom, said Gaýgysyz Arnagulyýew, a specialist at «Turkmen Congress».
As a result, 103 B2B negotiations were held following the business visit, and around 20 memoranda of understanding and cooperation agreements were signed. This demonstrates the strong interest of Turkmen private entrepreneurs in presenting their products in the European market, including the United Kingdom, as well as the interest of British business entities in entering the Central Asian market. The main point to note is that this visit was based on a common goal: the intention of the state and business entities of both countries to establish mutually beneficial trade cooperation and exchange views on the possibilities for implementing new projects.
