On August 11, 2025, Turkmen Deputy Foreign Minister Ahmet Gurbanov met with South Korea’s Ambassador Ji Kyu-Teok at the conclusion of his mission. The talks covered political, economic, and cultural cooperation. Turkmenistan’s economy is showing robust growth: GDP reached $64.24 billion in 2024 with a 6.3% growth rate. FDI rose to $1.6 billion, ranking second in Central Asia. The country is diversifying its exports: natural gas, oil, polymers (+38.5%), plastics (+66.7%), textiles ($200 million), and agricultural goods.South Korea, as a highly industrialized country, has strong demand for energy and raw materials. Its main import categories — crude oil, fuels, plastics, and chemicals — match well with Turkmenistan’s export profile.Despite this complementarity, bilateral trade remains small: in 2024, South Korea imported only $37,700 worth of goods from Turkmenistan. However, major projects are underway, such as the agreement between Turkmengaz and Hyundai Engineering for the fourth phase of the Galkynysh gas field.Thus, Turkmenistan and South Korea are building a strategic partnership with vast growth potential, driven by aligned trade interests, investments, and joint technological projects.
From Energy to High Technologies – Turkmenistan Expands Cooperation with South Korea
