On May 24–25, 2025, Ashgabat will host the 24th International Universal Exhibition and Conference “White City Ashgabat.” Organized by the Ashgabat City Administration and the Ministry of Construction and Architecture of Turkmenistan, the event will serve as a major platform for discussing innovations in architecture, urban planning, and sustainable development, while showcasing the achievements of the white-marble capital.
A day before the official opening – on May 23, a pre-conference program will be held for delegates. It will include visits to the historical and cultural reserve “Old Nisa,” the National Museum of Turkmen Carpets, and the “Magtymguly Pyragy” cultural park complex, as well as a city tour around Ashgabat. Delegate registration will take place that evening.
The main program of the conference will begin on May 24, 2025, with the official opening ceremony of the exhibition at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan. The highlight of the first day will be the Plenary Session titled “International Year of Peace and Trust: White City Ashgabat – City of the Future and Opportunities.” Participants will discuss the strategic development of the capital as a smart and inclusive megacity, including the implementation of digital solutions, the development of green infrastructure and a modern transport ecosystem. Special attention will be paid to Turkmenistan’s contribution to forming modern urban standards, attracting investments, and strengthening partnerships for global sustainable development.
Speakers at the plenary session will include Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan Baimyrat Annammamedov, Mayor of Ashgabat Rahym Gandymov, as well as, via video address, Executive Director of UN-Habitat Ana Claudia Marinheiro Centeno Rossbach and Deputy Director General of UNIDO, Ciyong Zou. The session will be moderated by Ambassador John S. MacGregor, Head of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat. In the evening, a concert dedicated to Ashgabat City Day will be held near the “White City Ashgabat” monument.
On May 25, the conference will continue with three thematic sessions. The first session – “Modern Construction and Industry: Quality, Technology and Financing” – will focus on upgrading the construction sector, implementing innovative technologies, and effective financing strategies for infrastructure projects. It will be moderated by H.E. Stephen Conlon, Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Turkmenistan.
The second session – “The Role of Public-Private Partnership in the Development of Construction, Industry and New Highways” – will explore PPP mechanisms as effective tools for developing construction and transport infrastructure. The session will be moderated by Rahymberdi Jepbarov, Chairman of the State Bank for Foreign Economic Affairs of Turkmenistan.
The third session will be dedicated to technological innovations in the modernization of Turkmenistan’s construction, industrial and energy sectors.
The conference aims to promote the exchange of best practices, enhance international cooperation and attract investment into key sectors of Turkmenistan’s economy, contributing to the continued development of Ashgabat as a city of the future.
