Turkmenistan and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization have signed an agreement to establish an FAO country office in Turkmenistan and provide technical assistance, the Foreign Ministry said.
The agreement was signed following talks between Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov and FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu on Jan. 21, 2026.
During the talks, the Turkmen side stressed the importance of developing cooperation with FAO and expressed readiness to further strengthen and expand practical engagement, including through joint programs and projects.
Both sides noted the productive nature of cooperation in 2025 and described the opening of an FAO office in Turkmenistan as an important step toward deepening bilateral ties.
Particular attention was given to plans to hold joint regional conferences on food security in the context of climate change, seen as an effective platform for dialogue and coordination among countries in the region.
The agenda also included sustainable development, environmental protection and climate change. In this context, Turkmenistan’s initiatives to establish a regional center to combat desertification for Central Asian countries and a regional climate technology center were highlighted.
Preparations for a new Country Programming Framework between the government of Turkmenistan and FAO for 2026-30 were also discussed.
Turkmenistan joined FAO in 1995. Since then, the organization has supported relevant government agencies, helping strengthen institutional capacity, improve statistical data collection and promote development of the agricultural sector.