President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov received the interim Executive Director of the UN-Habitat Program Michal Mlynar, writes TDH.

During the meeting, the parties discussed current issues of cooperation, which resulted in a number of measures taken to promote national development and achieve the SDGs. It was also noted that an important step in promoting effective bilateral partnership was the appointment in 2020 of the Permanent Representative of Turkmenistan to the UN in Geneva at the same time as the Permanent Representative of the UN Human Settlements Program.

As is known, in 2023, Turkmenistan joined the UN-Habitat Group of Friends on Sustainable Urbanization and the new Urban Development Program. In this context, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov noted that the issue related to the opening of the UN-Habitat Office in Turkmenistan is one of the priorities for the country at the current 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly. Continuing the topic, the head of state proposed, as a first step, to organize a visit to Turkmenistan by a group of experts from the UN Human Settlements Program to identify specific vectors of cooperation and develop an appropriate project document that will serve as the legal basis for interaction.

As noted, Turkmenistan is successfully implementing government programs aimed at developing an inclusive system of social protection of the population. Construction of industrial and social facilities is regularly carried out in all regions of the country. New villages, towns, cities, modern residential buildings, cultural, entertainment and medical centers, schools and kindergartens are being built and put into operation.

In a picturesque corner of the Turkmen land, the “smart” city of Arkadag, equipped with advanced digital information, communication and “green” technologies, was built. At the opening ceremony, the new city was awarded a certificate from the UN Human Settlements Program “For its efforts in implementing the principles of inclusive, safe, sustainable and smart regions and communities.” Taking this opportunity, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov expressed gratitude to UN-Habitat for its high appreciation of the urban development work being carried out in the country.

Stressing that Turkmenistan is ready for further cooperation with the UN Human Settlements Program, the head of state voiced a number of proposals, including expanding contacts in the legislative sphere in the field of urban planning, studying modern legal methods and mechanisms, which will contribute to the sustainable development of cities.

It is also proposed to establish cooperation in the implementation of global programs and strategies for the development of high-tech, environmentally friendly, disaster-resistant and habitable cities, and to intensify the exchange of best practices through public-private partnerships in the field of creating and managing urban infrastructure. For its part, Turkmenistan is ready to consider UN-Habitat’s proposals on these issues.