UN official: Arkadag, Ashgabat could be future city models for Turkmenistan

Arkadag and Ashgabat could serve as future city models for Turkmenistan, Maksat Keshiyev, Head of the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in Turkmenistan, stated during an event held within the 13th Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku, Report informs.

According to Keshiyev, one of the main directions of cooperation is strengthening urban planning and policy frameworks: "This approach is evident in cities like Ashgabat and Arkadag. Large investments in modern housing, public services, and infrastructure demonstrate the government's strong commitment to planned urban development."

He noted that these cities create significant opportunities for sustainable land use, mobility, and ecological planning integration during future expansion phases:

"The second priority is strengthening institutional capacity and data-driven decision-making. Within this framework, national and local capacities are being enhanced in urbanization, housing, and localization of the Sustainable Development Goals. Arkadag, as a newly built city, offers a unique opportunity to apply smart and sustainable solutions from the outset and could become a model for future urban development."