Turkmenistan has been elected Chair of the Group of Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) for 2027-2028, while Azerbaijan will serve as vice-chair.

The decision was made during a meeting of the group at the level of permanent representatives to the United Nations in New York, according to Turkmenportal.

Representatives from regional groups also elected Laos, Burundi, Chad, Rwanda and Paraguay to the group’s governing bureau.

Turkmenistan’s two-year chairmanship will begin on January 1, 2027. During its term, the country will coordinate the group’s activities and represent the interests of 32 landlocked developing countries.

The chairmanship is expected to place particular emphasis on issues important to Turkmenistan, including energy cooperation and transport connectivity.

The final composition of the LLDC governing bureau is expected to be formally endorsed in the outcome declaration of the group’s ministerial meeting, scheduled for September 24, 2026, at UN headquarters in New York.

Turkmenistan and the UN Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (OHRLLS) also plan to prepare a draft roadmap for the country’s 2027-2028 chairmanship in November and December 2026.

The roadmap will outline the priorities and activities of Turkmenistan’s leadership of the LLDC group over the two-year period.