As part of his visit to the Republic of Austria, the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty Hero-Arkadag met with Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Gerd Müller.

Warmly welcoming the distinguished Turkmen guest, Gerd Müller emphasized that it was a great honor for him to meet with Hero-Arkadag within the framework of the International Vienna Energy and Climate Forum.

Expressing gratitude for the warm hospitality and kind words, Hero-Arkadag highlighted Gerd Müller’s role in advancing cooperation between Turkmenistan and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization.

The National Leader of the Turkmen people noted with satisfaction that on June 29, 2023, the city of Arkadag was awarded a UNIDO Certificate of Appreciation for its contribution to the creation of a smart city through the use of digital technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution aimed at promoting inclusive and sustainable industrial development. Turkmenistan is interested in technical cooperation within the framework of the second phase of construction of the smart city of Arkadag.

In turn, the Director General of United Nations Industrial Development Organization noted that the creation of a medical cluster as part of the development of Arkadag would become a vivid example of the successful integration of advanced technologies and industrial potential into the healthcare system.

The sides also discussed pressing issues on the agenda related to climate change. Hero-Arkadag confirmed Turkmenistan’s readiness to consider the development and implementation of a Roadmap for cooperation with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization for 2026-2030 in the field of green industrial transition and climate action measures.

It was emphasized that the initiative to establish a Regional Center for Combating Desertification for the countries of Central Asia is aimed at creating an effective mechanism for coordinating efforts to restore ecosystems and strengthen the region’s environmental resilience.

At the same time, Turkmenistan is consistently promoting the development of international legal instruments for the management of transboundary water resources, including the preparation of regional conventions for the basins of the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers. Special attention is also being paid in the country to advancing the Caspian Environmental Initiative.

In addition, Turkmenistan is implementing an initiative to establish a Regional UN Center for Climate Change Technologies in Central Asia.

For his part, Gerd Müller highly appreciated the significance of the initiatives put forward by Turkmenistan, emphasizing that the United Nations Industrial Development Organization views cooperation with Turkmenistan as strategically important and oriented toward the long term.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty, Hero-Arkadag and Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization Gerd Müller exchanged their best wishes.