The OGT 2025 International Conference, dedicated to global energy and strategic cooperation, opened in Ashgabat this afternoon.

The opening ceremony was held under the theme "Shaping the Future of Global Energy in the International Year of Peace and Trust." Vice-Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan Batyr Amanov addressed the opening plenary session.

The Vice-Chairman noted that the current forum provides an opportunity to learn more about investment projects. The Turkmen side is ready to discuss proposals for mutually beneficial cooperation in the implementation of new projects.

Batyr Amanov emphasized that, thanks to the efforts of President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov and National Leader of the Turkmen People, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, the main goal of the long-term strategy of an independent and neutral Turkmenistan is sustainable economic development. Within the framework of this strategy, state programs and reforms covering all sectors of the economy, including the oil and gas sector, are being successfully implemented.

The Vice-Chairman noted that the participation of leaders from Turkmenistan's fuel and energy, chemical, financial, and banking sectors, as well as numerous foreign partners, is a clear indication of the high interest in implementing joint investment projects, expanding cooperation, and sharing experiences.

It was also noted that the participation of representatives from more than 70 countries in the forum confirms that the conference's scale is expanding each year, and Turkmenistan's attractiveness to international investors is growing. This, according to the Vice-Chairman, is directly related to the successful implementation of the open-door policy and the creation of favorable political, economic, and legal conditions based on the principles of equal and mutually beneficial interstate relations.

Turkmenistan attaches great importance to developing trade and economic cooperation and has made attracting foreign investment and advanced technologies one of its main goals, the Vice-Chairman said.

Batyr Amanov highlighted key areas and important projects for the development of the oil and gas industry. These included cooperation in the construction of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline, the development of offshore blocks in the Turkmen part of the Caspian Sea through foreign investment, the advancement of scientific research, and the creation of underground gas storage facilities.

Cooperation with leading international companies in the deep development of depleted fields, the expansion of hydrocarbon processing at a higher level, seismic and geological exploration, the implementation of digital technologies, and the exchange of experience were also highlighted.

Concluding his speech, the Vice-Chairman invited all interested parties to mutually beneficial cooperation to implement planned projects in our country in the near future and wished success to the international conference.

Other speakers at the plenary session included Uzbekistan's Energy Minister Jurabek Mirzamakhmudov, Azerbaijan's Deputy Energy Minister Orkhan Zeynalov, ENOC and Dragon Oil Chairman Sayyid Mohammed Al Tayer, International Gas Union President Andrea Steiger, PETRONAS Executive Vice President Mohd Jukris Abdul Wahab, and heads of major international energy companies and organizations.

The plenary session focused on key trends shaping the future of the energy sector: decarbonization, technological innovation, and renewable energy development. Particular attention was paid to the role of Turkmenistan, which holds the fourth-largest natural gas reserves in the world, with over 50 trillion cubic meters.

Forum participants discussed issues of modernizing energy infrastructure, expanding export routes, and strengthening international partnerships. The conference aims to attract investment and strengthen the region's role in the global energy system.