Ashgabat, Turkmenistan — The capital of Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, will once again take centre stage as it hosts the 24th International Exhibition and Conference “White City Ashgabat”. This high-profile event, held on the occasion of Ashgabat City Day, will bring together over 400 delegates from 30 countries, including heads of institutions, investors, urban planners, government officials, scholars, and representatives of leading international organisations.
Jointly organised by the Ashgabat City Municipality, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan, and the Turkmen Energy Forum, the event underscores the city’s ambition to be a model of smart urbanism, environmental sustainability, and constructive diplomacy.
CITY OF PEACE, IDEAS, AND INNOVATION
The 2025 edition of the “White City” forum holds special significance as it coincides with the UN International Year of Peace and Trust, a global initiative originally proposed by Turkmenistan. Against this meaningful backdrop, Ashgabat will be presented not just as a growing urban hub, but as a symbol of neutrality, dialogue, and international cooperation.
Ashgabat, with its white marble skyline and tree-lined avenues, is home to dozens of diplomatic missions, as well as regional offices of UN agencies. The capital plays host to the United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA), solidifying its position as a trusted venue for dialogue and peacebuilding.
“INSPIRE, CREATE, UNITE!”
Under the theme “Inspire, Create, Unite!”, the international conference will explore how cities like Ashgabat can harmonise tradition with innovation. The plenary and thematic sessions will cover urban planning, infrastructure innovation, smart cities, eco-technologies, and investment opportunities.
Experts and officials will discuss how Ashgabat is becoming a regional benchmark for sustainable development, integrating smart city technologies, green infrastructure, and digital transformation of transport and public services.
GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS AND STRATEGIC DIALOGUE
A highlight of the conference will be a keynote by Ms Anacláudia Rossbach, Executive Director of UN-Habitat, who will present global trends in sustainable cities and discuss collaborative efforts under the existing Memorandum of Understanding between Turkmenistan and UN-Habitat. Their partnership focuses on: Urban policy regulation and reform, Environmental resilience and planning and Inclusive, safe, and sustainable urban spaces
This collaboration supports Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11: making cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.
UNIDO: Eco-Industrial Growth in Cities
Mr Ciyong Zou, Deputy Director-General of UNIDO, will continue the dialogue on eco-industrial innovation, outlining Turkmenistan’s partnership with the agency on the development of tech-forward and environmentally sound cities, including the flagship “Ashgabat City” project.
The agreement signed in 2024 between Turkmenistan and UNIDO aims to scale up joint initiatives in green production, advanced engineering, and urban environmental safety.
LEADERS IN BUSINESS, ENERGY, AND INFRASTRUCTURE
Several prominent international companies and financial institutions will share their experiences and solutions: Mr Ahmet Çalık, Chairman of Çalık Holding, will discuss the company’s enduring contributions to Turkmenistan’s construction and infrastructure sectors., Mr Artur Andrysiak, Country Director of the Asian Development Bank, will present ADB’s financial and technical support for climate adaptation, sustainable transport, and digital utility networks., Ms Liu Xu, President of CNTIC, will showcase large-scale engineering solutions and high-tech integration in construction and energy., Mr Osman Bozkurt, Vice President of Rönesans Holding, will share insights into smart infrastructure and sustainable building methods., H.E. Philippe Merlin, Ambassador of France, will present France’s collaborative projects with Turkmenistan, including a recent bilateral declaration on sustainable urban development signed in Paris., Mr Alexis Rechov, General Director of Bouygues Turkmen, will discuss ecological efficiency, energy performance, and social responsibility in modern urban design.
Running in parallel with the conference is an international multidisciplinary exhibition featuring more than 150 stands, where leading companies will showcase the latest innovations in architectural design, engineering and construction, environmental and green technologies, transportation and utilities, as well as telecommunications and digital services.
This exhibition serves as a platform to embody the future vision of smart and sustainable cities, with Ashgabat standing as a global model for the cities of tomorrow. The capital has been admitted to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the field of design and is now recognized as one of the most ambitious capitals in terms of quality of life, innovation, and environmental harmony.
“White City Ashgabat” is not just a conference—it is an open invitation for knowledge exchange, partnership building, and collaborative efforts toward a more human-centered and sustainable urban future.
