A delegation from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), led by Francis Malige, Managing Director of the Financial Institutions Department, visited Turkmenistan in early March to outline the directions of the new country strategy for 2026-2030. During the visit, meetings were held with senior government officials and heads of the country's leading financial institutions.

The EBRD delegation arrived at the invitation of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov. The main purpose of the visit was to study the needs of the banking sector of Turkmenistan and identify new areas of cooperation with the country's leading financial institutions.

During the visit, meetings were held with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mahri Bashimova, Deputy Prime Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers Hojamyrat Geldymuradov, Chairman of the Central Bank Toyly Myalikov, members of the board of the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, as well as heads of the country's largest banks - Rysgal, Turkmenvnesheconombank, Senagat, Turkmen-Turkish, Turkmenbashi and Halk Bank.

The visit concluded with a round table at which Francis Malige presented the EBRD’s tools for working with partner banks, including the transfer of modern banking practices, joint financing of projects, provision of targeted credit lines and assistance in establishing correspondent relations abroad.Particular attention was paid to trade finance instruments that can eliminate the need for prepayment when carrying out export-import operations.

According to Eric Livny, Head of the EBRD Resident Office in Turkmenistan, the visit of the high-level delegation marks the opening of a new page in relations between the EBRD and Turkmenistan. The results of the talks will form the basis for developing a new EBRD country strategy for 2026-2030.

Turkmenistan's cooperation with the EBRD has been ongoing since 1992. During this time, the Bank has financed more than 80 projects totaling over 350 million USD, primarily aimed at developing private entrepreneurship in the country.