Opening remarks by Masato Kanda, President, Asian Development Bank, at the Official Dinner Hosted by ADB for Turkmenistan Government Leaders, 10 November 2025, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
Your Excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen:
Agşamyňyz haýyrly bolsun. Good evening and thank you for this warm welcome to Turkmenistan. I have already been deeply impressed by your hospitality since my arrival just this morning.
I would like to express my deep appreciation to His Excellency, the President and His Excellency, the National Leader of the Turkmen People for their leadership, their vision for Turkmenistan’s future, and their continued trust in our partnership. Their commitment to advancing the country’s development priorities inspires us to work even harder to deliver meaningful results for the people of Turkmenistan.
I also thank the Vice Premier for Foreign Affairs, Vice Premier for Finance and Economy, and Asian Development Bank (ADB) Governor and Chairman of the Central Bank of Turkmenistan for the strong partnership between our institutions.
This year marks a very special milestone—the 25th anniversary of our partnership. A quarter century of working together, building trust, and delivering results for the people of Turkmenistan. This is a moment to celebrate what we have achieved together, and more importantly, to look ahead with optimism at what we can accomplish in the years to come.
During my meetings today, I was inspired by Turkmenistan’s ambitious vision for its future, which embraces innovation, sustainability, and opportunity. ADB is proud to stand beside you as a trusted partner in realizing this vision.
Our partnership is built on shared values: a commitment to improving lives, creating opportunities, and building a prosperous future for all. Whether in transport, energy, health, or finance, our joint work is guided by delivering meaningful impact for the people of Turkmenistan.
As we look to the future, I see extraordinary opportunities ahead. Our Country Partnership Strategy for 2024–2028 embodies this forward-looking vision of sustainable growth, economic diversification, and enhanced regional connectivity. Together, we can help build Turkmenistan’s health systems and human capital while modernizing railways and transport systems that connect the country to new markets. We can advance the energy transition that powers the economy of tomorrow. And we can strengthen institutions, enable digital transformation, nurture entrepreneurship, and unlock the potential of the private sector to drive inclusive growth.
But strategies alone are not enough. What truly matters is the spirit of partnership and shared purpose that underpins our work. That spirit is stronger today than ever.
Allow me to also extend my heartfelt congratulations on the 34th anniversary of Independence and the 30th anniversary of Neutrality of Turkmenistan. These milestones speak to Turkmenistan’s resilience, its commitment to peace and stability, and its enduring pursuit of prosperity for all its people.
Your Excellencies, thank you very much for your partnership, vision, and trust. We have achieved much over these 25 years, but I am convinced that our best work—the work that will truly transform lives and shape a brighter future—still lies ahead.
Thank you once again for your warm hospitality. I look forward to deepening our collaboration and the meaningful work we will do together for all the people of Turkmenistan.
Speaker
