BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 22. South Korea
plans to expand cooperation with Turkmenistan beyond energy and
industrial projects, President Lee Jae Myung said in a birthday
message to Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov on September 22,
according to a press release published by the Turkmen government’s
press service.
Lee recalled his first meeting with Berdimuhamedov during the
Turkmen president’s recent visit to South Korea, saying the two
leaders held an in-depth exchange of views on bilateral relations
and ways to expand cooperation.
The South Korean president said the two sides agreed to broaden
their partnership beyond energy and industrial projects to areas
including shipbuilding, railway construction and urban
development.
“I am confident that we will continue our joint efforts to
achieve fruitful results that will contribute to the well-being of
our peoples and serve the national interests of both countries,”
Lee said.
Lee also expressed wishes for Berdimuhamedov’s good health and
happiness and further prosperity for Turkmenistan. He asked
Berdimuhamedov to convey his warm wishes and greetings to the
Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty (Parliament) of Turkmenistan,
Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.
For reference, South Korea and Turkmenistan have developed their
economic partnership around energy, industrial projects and
infrastructure. Korean companies have been involved in major
projects in Turkmenistan, particularly in the gas and petrochemical
sectors, while Ashgabat has increasingly sought Korean expertise
and investment in transport, industry and urban development. The
two countries are implementing 17 investment projects involving
Korean businesses with a combined value of more than $12 billion,
according to the Turkmen government. Major Korean companies
involved include Daewoo Engineering & Construction, Koryo
Shipbuilding Industry Technology and Korea Meditech.
The partnership gained a new dimension during President Serdar
Berdimuhamedov’s state visit to South Korea on September 15-16,
2026. At talks with President Lee Jae Myung on September 15, the
two sides discussed cooperation in energy and the chemical industry
as well as railway transport, shipbuilding, logistics, artificial
intelligence, water management and other areas. Seoul and Ashgabat
also signed an investment protection agreement aimed at providing
greater legal certainty for Korean companies operating in
Turkmenistan, including in new-city construction, shipbuilding and
gas, chemical and fertilizer projects. The two presidents
additionally agreed to explore joint shipbuilding projects in
Turkmenistan and expand cooperation in railway construction and
new-town development.
