On April 18, Ashgabat hosted the second Financial Services Festival, FinFest Turkmenistan 2026. This large-scale educational and discussion platform brought together banks, insurance companies, the IT sector, international organizations, entrepreneurs, and the general public around a common goal: making financial culture an integral part of everyday life in Turkmenistan.

The event was organized by the ES Sustainable Financial Center and the ES Açyk ýürek, with the support of the Union of Economists of Turkmenistan. This year, the festival reached a new level: the program was structured as a dynamic ecosystem of interaction, with panel discussions interspersed with open microphone sessions, practical presentations, and individual expert consultations. The financial fair became a point of direct contact between companies and visitors, allowing participants to gain hands-on experience with modern financial products and solutions.

Key attention was paid to current issues in financial market development: digitalization of banking services, expanding business financing opportunities, securities market development, insurance, and risk management. A separate section of the program focused on sustainable development and ESG issues, reflecting global trends in the transformation of financial systems.

The festival's expert presentations by international and regional experts added particular value. Panel discussions presented practical approaches to developing financial systems and institutional environments. In particular, international organization expert Maksat Keshiyev shared his experience in building sustainable financial ecosystems and emphasized the role of systemic reforms and international cooperation.

Ruslan Sadgalin (EY)'s online presentation focused on green finance and ESG transformation, which remains new but strategically important for the region. He emphasized that the implementation of ESG approaches opens access to international financing and increases the investment attractiveness of the economy.

Gulzhanat Sarenova presented a practical perspective on the investment market, highlighting modern capital raising tools, including alternative financial solutions, and emphasizing the importance of developing new financing mechanisms for business.

One of the festival's highlights was the children's financial literacy zone. In an interactive format, children were introduced to the basic principles of personal finance management, banking products, and financial responsibility, highlighting the organizers' long-term approach to fostering financial literacy.

The wide audience reach—from schoolchildren and students to entrepreneurs, financial sector professionals, and international organizations—confirmed FinFest's status as an open national platform for dialogue, exchange of experience, and the development of practical solutions.

FinFest Turkmenistan 2026 demonstrated that financial market development is impossible without improving financial literacy, implementing modern technologies, and building sustainable professional communities. The festival continues to develop as a key platform uniting market participants and setting the direction for its long-term development.