Turkmenistan is preparing to inject tens of billions of manats into its economy as the country accelerates toward a new stage of development driven by technology, private enterprise, and social investment.

The large-scale investment push was unveiled during an expanded Cabinet of Ministers meeting, where officials presented a comprehensive “digital portrait” of the national economy and outlined ambitious plans for 2026, The Caspian Post reports via Turkmen media.

Strong GDP Growth and Momentum Across Key Sectors

Turkmenistan’s economy demonstrated solid performance in 2025, with GDP growth reaching 6.3 per cent. President Serdar Berdimuhamedov has instructed the government to maintain this pace in 2026, signaling confidence in continued expansion.

Several sectors recorded especially strong gains, highlighting broad-based economic momentum:

Transport and communications surged by 9.8 per cent

Trade expanded by 9.6 per cent

Construction grew by 7.9 per cent

Agriculture increased by 7 per cent

These figures point to a balanced growth model supported by infrastructure development, domestic commerce, and food production.

Energy Output Remains Strong, While Industry Accelerates

Turkmenistan continues to benefit from its vast natural resource base. In 2025, the country produced more than 76.5 billion cubic meters of natural gas and over 8.3 million tons of oil, reinforcing its position as a major energy exporter.

At the same time, industrial diversification is gaining speed, with significant increases in manufacturing and processing:

Cement production soared by 40.9 per cent

Bitumen output rose by 26.4 per cent

Steel reinforcement and metal structures grew by 22.3 per cent

Textile production increased by 16.7 per cent

These gains reflect efforts to move beyond raw resource exports and expand domestic value-added industries.

Private Sector and Lending Drive Economic Expansion

Turkmenistan’s banking sector is playing a key role in fueling growth. Lending to the private sector rose by 23 per cent, while loans to individuals increased by 25.4 per cent. Mortgage lending, particularly in the cities of Ashgabat and Arkadag, grew by more than 20 per cent, supporting housing development and urban expansion.

The government aims to further strengthen private enterprise, with plans to increase the non-state sector’s share of GDP to 72.9 per cent in 2026-marking a major step toward a more diversified and market-oriented economy.

Massive Investment Plan Targets Jobs and Social Infrastructure

President Berdimuhamedov has approved a national socio-economic development and investment program for 2026, which includes approximately 41.2 billion manats ($24.235 billion) in total investment.

The initiative is expected to deliver wide-ranging benefits:

More than 5,300 new jobs will be created through new industrial and infrastructure projects

Nearly 51 per cent of all capital investments will be directed toward social infrastructure, including schools, hospitals, and housing

Turkmenistan Signals Long-Term Economic Transformation

The scale of planned investment underscores Turkmenistan’s ambition to modernize its economy and improve living standards. By prioritizing industrial diversification, private sector growth, and social development, the country is positioning itself for sustained economic expansion and greater resilience in a rapidly changing global landscape.