At the regular meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers held on June 14, the President of Turkmenistan emphasized that the country is implementing advanced technologies and taking effective measures to transition to and develop a digital economy.
With significant resource and economic potential, independent and neutral Turkmenistan, under the leadership of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, continues to confidently advance on the path of progressive innovative development. Special importance is attached to transitioning the national economy and all its sectors to a digital platform as an integral factor in further modernizing the national economy and increasing its efficiency.
In this direction, the country is implementing a Concept until 2025, which serves as a Roadmap for the technological transformation of all sectors and their state management, forming a knowledge-based economy rooted in the country's vast resource and production potential, while integrating organically into adopted state programs and future plans.
The regulatory framework governing Turkmenistan's telecommunications sector is systematically improved in accordance with the times and in the context of state policy carried out by President Serdar Berdimuhamedov.
In recent years, laws such as the Law of Turkmenistan "On Communications," "On Legal Regulation of Internet Development and Internet Services in Turkmenistan," "On Information and its Protection," "On Electronic Government," "On Cybersecurity," "On Electronic Document, Electronic Document Management and Digital Services," "On Space Activities," "On Radio Frequency Spectrum," "On Courier Communications," and others have been adopted.
Today, the process of introducing the latest digital solutions and information and communication technologies that meet international standards into the national telecommunications system is successfully continuing. Consistent work is being carried out to create and provide the population with a qualitatively updated and competitive communication service. Significant funds are being invested in forming and improving the relevant cluster. Fundamental scientific and technical reforms and large-scale projects are being implemented through the systematic improvement of the structural, material-technical, and legal bases of the digital system.
The scale of applying digital, information, communication, and "green" technologies is evidenced by the city of Arkadag, built on the concept of a "smart city," which represents a synthesis of the best traditions of national architecture and trends in modern design. The well-thought-out urban infrastructure, fully compliant with international standards, including in the field of ecology, ensures a comfortable and favorable living environment for the population.
As reported at the aforementioned Government meeting, the introduction of innovative technologies and digital solutions in the city of Arkadag, built in the foothills of the Kopetdag mountains on the initiative of the National Leader of the Turkmen people and through the unprecedented efforts of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, facilitated the creation of "smart city" and "smart home" systems, remote management of these services, and enhanced cybersecurity. It was noted that innovations and modern technologies are also envisioned for the construction of "Ashgabat City."
It is an indisputable fact that digitalization is the key to solving the priority tasks of sustainable development. The digital technology market is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the world and a popular employment sector, especially among young people.
Having firmly entered our daily lives, advanced technologies transform the ways of communication and labor organization, forms of education and leisure. Studying and implementing advanced world experience and progressive practices, Turkmenistan has set the goal of developing its own digital model, based not only on importing ready-made solutions and know-how but also on its own scientific, technological, and intellectual potential.
Thus, a significant impetus has been given to the development of high-tech industries, particularly the electronics industry, in the country. Sequential steps are being taken to master such knowledge-intensive segments as software development, electronic services, information portals, and others. It is noteworthy that new digital products developed by Turkmen specialists are widely used in practice, not inferior in their functional qualities and usability to foreign analogs.
Advanced technologies are radically changing the services sector. As known, to automate the production activities of hyakimliks and sectoral departments, simplify registration and accounting work, and for the convenience of citizens, the Unified State Services Portal of Turkmenistan e.gov.tm was created. This portal represents an automated "One Window" information system for providing state services in electronic format to the population and businesses.
Today, an authorized user can pay bills for the internet, landline and mobile communication, IP television, railway, or airplane tickets, and other services from their bank card through the official internet portal of state services.
Here, one can also apply online for passport processing, registration, employment, and many other issues, from entrepreneurial activities to social aspects.
Internet banking and mobile banking services are actively being implemented, allowing non-cash transactions both within Turkmenistan and beyond, simplifying monetary transactions and ensuring their security.
The country continues to improve the legal and regulatory framework governing activities in the field of information and telecommunications services. Effective work is being done to implement the digital economy and fully utilize the "Electronic Government" system in Turkmenistan.
President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, emphasizing the particular relevance of using high technologies, requires leaders to implement the modern electronic document management system into all sectors of the national economy to further enhance the effectiveness of work in the field of state administration. Along with creating an electronic database, performing various document operations, among the features of this system is the ability to sign documents electronically directly on the monitor, give voice commands, or quickly send them from a mobile phone.
At the same time, advanced technologies require the preparation of qualified professional personnel. The Concept for the Development of the Digital Education System in Turkmenistan is aimed at solving tasks in this area. Its implementation focuses on creating an informational educational environment and fully providing this field with electronic learning resources, increasing the intellectual potential of society, and improving specialized methodologies at the level of international standards.
As President Serdar Berdimuhamedov notes, in accordance with the large-scale reforms and the Concept of digitalization of the economy being developed in the country, the connection between science, education, and production should be strengthened. For this, it is necessary to introduce new specialties in domestic universities, improve the methodology of teaching engineering, technical, technological, and other most in-demand directions. The Academy of Sciences plays an important role in this.
For these purposes, extensive comprehensive work is being carried out in the Homeland, initiated by the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, and consistently continued under the leadership of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov. All conditions are created for the successful conduct of fundamental and applied research, expansion of their scope in research institutes, higher educational institutions, and other specialized structures of the country.
In this regard, it should be recalled that recently the head of state signed a Decree granting the Technology Center of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan the status of an International Scientific and Technological Park. This decision will allow our scientists and engineers to activate and deepen cooperation with prestigious foreign specialized centers, including the International Association of Science Parks (IASP).
One of the key tasks set by the President of Turkmenistan is ensuring universal access to digital and mobile services. Industry specialists are implementing large projects aimed at creating a comprehensive communication system based on advanced technologies, improving the quality and range of communication services along with providing internet access to the population of the most remote corners of the country. In this context, the "National Program of the President of Turkmenistan for the Transformation of Social and Living Conditions of the Population of Villages, Towns, District Centers, and Districts until 2028" continues in a new quality – at the level of digitalization of regions and rural areas, becoming a powerful catalyst for their socio-economic development.
To provide consumers with high-level telecommunications services and increase data transmission speeds, fiber-optic cables are being laid in the capital and regions, which will significantly improve interagency information exchange and introduce new types of electronic services.
Projects in this area, forming a key link in transit systems not only in Central Asia but also along the North-South and East-West routes, contribute to the development of the economies of neighboring countries. Actively implementing the "open doors" policy, our state, together with partner countries, actively participates in the revival of the Great Silk Road in a modern format and makes a significant contribution to this common cause.
Considering the growing demands of the population, the national operator "Altyn Asyr" aims to fully and universally provide it with basic types of mobile communication, including 3G, 4G, and in the near future – high-speed 5G internet and other services.
At the aforementioned meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, it was emphasized that it is expedient to study international experience, features, and technical characteristics of 5G technology, which, compared to 4G, increases data transmission capacity by up to 10 times, ensuring reliable and stable connections. Noting that modern 5G technology is widely used abroad today, the head of state instructed the relevant leaders to explore the possibilities and advantages of this technology.
In our country, which has embarked on the path of innovative development, significant work is underway to technically support the implementation of the set tasks and create the corresponding infrastructure of their scale.
In accordance with the relevant Decree of the President of Turkmenistan, the "Türkmenaragatnaşyk" agency has been designated as the authorized body for the development of the digital economy in our state. Within the framework of the tasks assigned to the agency, work is being carried out in the field of local and cellular telephone communication, the internet, postal services, digital economy, cybersecurity, satellite communication, broadcasting of national TV and radio channels, and training of specialists.
Currently, the "Türkmenaragatnaşyk" agency is implementing several large projects aimed at creating a comprehensive communication system based on advanced technologies, increasing the volume, quality, and range of communication services.
The globalization of market space and the use of information technologies are based on the use of information as a major strategic resource. Digital, computer systems integrated into the network infrastructure are a key factor in the progress of society and a way to increase the efficiency of various sectors of the national economic complex.
The economy is changing, becoming more innovative, and at the heart of these changes is the use of high-speed broadband communication networks and the internet. The most competitive countries today are those that constantly improve, considering technological innovations, and implement them in economic management.
Therefore, the information market should become one of the main sectors of our country's economy. Its operation will have a significant impact on the development of other sectors and macroeconomic processes in general.
The experience accumulated by Turkmenistan is of enormous value not only nationally but also globally. The successes of our Homeland today cause a well-founded interest in many countries and among international experts. At the same time, politicians, public figures, and experts of authoritative international organizations invariably associate the undeniable achievements of the Turkmen state with the scientifically grounded, deeply thought-out, and time-appropriate policy of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov.
Source: Turkmenistan: Golden Age
