Today during the International Exhibition on the 25th anniversary of permanent neutrality of Turkmenistan acting Permanent Representative of United Nations Development Programme Natia Natsvlishvili and the Vice prime minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Rashid Meredove signed frame agreement on cooperation between United Nations Development Program and the Government of Turkmenistan on implementation and co-funding of new Country Program for 2021 – 2025. This is reported in press – release of United Nations Development Program.

Previously a range of new projects with different state structures were signed, they will be implemented during the following program period.

The new Country Program for 2021 – 2025 which serves as a ground for new cooperation cycle was adopted by the Executive Council of United Nations Development Programme on 3rd of September 2020. New agreement for cooperation includes the following priorities:

• Implementing practical governance reforms for more effective and transparent public administration based on international standards and Turkmenistan's commitment to the rule of law, human rights and gender equality;
• Design and implement policy and regulatory reforms to promote economic development and increased income for the population in non-carbon sectors of the economy, increase the competitiveness of the private sector and trade, innovative and efficient banking, and job creation, including in the field of social services;
• Providing support to the Government and other partners in implementing effective measures to adapt to climate change, mitigate and manage natural resources, and reduce disaster risks;
• Improving the effectiveness of the health and social protection system to deliver better and more inclusive services, with a focus on tuberculosis and other infectious diseases, increasing the capacity to prevent and respond to pandemics, improving the treatment of noncommunicable diseases and expanding social protection coverage to vulnerable groups.

Natia Natsvlishvili, acting Permanent Representative of United Nations Development Programme:

“The year of 2020 was very important for United Nations Development Programme despite the calls which faced the whole world. Together with our partners we completed program cycle , analyzed our experience and received lessons, also we planned our new frames of strategic cooperation for future five years. We are proud of the level of support and belief that the Government of Turkmenistan expresses to United Nations Development Programme by financial increasing of our program and different projects, directed for assistance in implementation of SDG in Turkmenistan”.