BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 17. Ashgabat hosted
a C5+1 seminar focused on AI, data centers, satellite
communications, and cybersecurity.
This was reflected in a press release published by the Turkmen
Foreign Ministry on September 17. According to the Ministry, the
seminar, titled “C5+1: Reliable Artificial Intelligence and
Digitalization,” was held on September 15-16.
According to the publication, representatives of government
agencies from Central Asian countries and the United States,
international technology companies, and experts took part in the
event.
Participants discussed the deployment of modern digital
solutions, the security and resilience of digital infrastructure
and the protection of critical information infrastructure.
The agenda also covered the development of artificial
intelligence, satellite communications and spectrum management, as
well as the creation and operation of data centers.
Parties exchanged views on international cooperation and
financing for digital technology projects and discussed prospects
for further cooperation in digitalization and the secure
development of emerging technologies, the report added.
For reference, the C5+1 format brings together the United States
and the five Central Asian countries - Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Established in 2015 as a
platform for addressing regional security, economic and
environmental issues, the format has gradually expanded its agenda
to include trade, transport connectivity, investment, critical
minerals and technology. The expansion reflects a broader shift
toward practical economic cooperation, with the format increasingly
addressing areas linked to regional connectivity, supply chains and
technological development.
Digitalization has also emerged as a growing area of cooperation
across Central Asia as countries seek to modernize public services,
strengthen digital infrastructure and expand technology-driven
economic activity. Regional initiatives have increasingly focused
on e-commerce, digital trade, fintech, cybersecurity, digital
identity and cross-border digital services, while governments are
also developing infrastructure and regulatory frameworks for
artificial intelligence and data-driven technologies. The
development of data centers, cloud and communications
infrastructure, digital skills and cybersecurity capabilities is
becoming increasingly important as Central Asian economies seek to
strengthen regional connectivity and participate more actively in
emerging digital markets.
Turkmenistan is developing its own digital policy framework
alongside these regional trends. The country is implementing its
Digital Economy Development Program for 2026-2028 and has begun
work on a National Artificial Intelligence Strategy with UNDP
support. The process covers areas including digital infrastructure,
data ecosystems, governance, responsible AI adoption and digital
skills. Against this background, the focus of the C5+1 seminar in
Ashgabat on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data centers,
satellite communications, and other digital technologies reflects
the broader transition from basic digitalization toward the
development of infrastructure and institutional capacity needed for
advanced technologies.
