Slovakia opens new economic opportunities in Central Asia; first joint commission with Turkmenistan meets in Ashgabat

Slovakia and Turkmenistan are taking their economic relations to a new level. On June 17–18, 2026, the first-ever meeting of the Slovak–Turkmen Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation took place in Ashgabat, opening up new opportunities for the development of trade, investment, and strategic partnership between the two countries. The Slovak delegation also included state secretaries from the Ministries of Defense and Environment, as well as representatives of major Slovak companies, including Slovak Gas Industry (SPP), BETAMONT, MICROSTEP-MIS, and VODOHOSPODÁRSKA VÝSTAVBA.

The talks focused on developing cooperation in the fields of energy, transport, water management, information technology, telecommunications, agriculture, environment, and healthcare. Particular attention was paid to energy, including opportunities to diversify natural gas supplies, which, in the current geopolitical context, is one of the key issues for the energy security of both Slovakia and Europe.

During the two-day programme, the Slovak delegation held a series of bilateral meetings with representatives of the Turkmen government, the energy sector, including the Turkmengaz Group, and the State Commodity and Raw Materials Exchange.

The talks resulted in the signing of a joint protocol establishing a framework for further cooperation and creating conditions for closer ties between business entities in both countries.

The first meeting of the joint commission confirmed Slovakia’s readiness to actively develop economic relations beyond traditional European markets, strengthen its energy security, and create new opportunities for Slovak companies in promising foreign markets.

The Press Department of MoE SR