Turkmenistan will launch construction of a new segment of the Ashgabat–Turkmenbashi highway in 2026, Rahimberdi Jepbarov, Chairman of the State Bank for Foreign Economic Affairs of Turkmenistan, announced during the Turkmenistan Economic Investment Forum (TEIF 2025) in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday.

Jepbarov noted that discussions are underway with international financial institutions regarding participation in the modernization of the Turkmenabat–Mary–Ashgabat–Turkmenbashi railway line.

"Turkmenistan is actively developing regional transport infrastructure," he said, highlighting the Caspian Sea international seaport as a key transit hub. Jepbarov also pointed to completed railway projects in neighboring countries, including Afghanistan.

Future plans include the construction of dry ports and logistics warehouses abroad, the extension of the railway line from Torghundi to Herat, and the development of a fiber-optic communication line connecting countries in the region.

Jepbarov emphasized the vital role of investment cooperation in executing national infrastructure projects and expressed readiness to partner with all interested stakeholders.

Chairman of the State Bank for Foreign Economic Affairs of Turkmenistan added that Turkmenistan’s foreign trade turnover reached nearly $20 billion in 2024.