BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 28. Turkmenistan and
the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have discussed prospects for
expanding expert consultations and exchanging assessments and
experience on economic policy.


This was reflected in a press release published by the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan following a meeting between
Deputy Foreign Minister Ahmet Gurbanov and Anna Bordon, IMF mission
chief for Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan, held in Ashgabat today.


According to the ministry, the sides emphasized the importance
of expert engagement and consultations in building a deeper mutual
understanding of economic policy issues. They also expressed mutual
interest in continuing regular dialogue and developing
cooperation.


The meeting comes amid ongoing engagement between the IMF and
Turkmenistan on improving the availability and quality of economic
data. On September 11, the IMF Executive Board reviewed the
country's obligations under Article VIII, Section 5 of the fund's
Articles of Agreement, which requires members to provide
information needed for the IMF's work.


According to the board's statement, some key data, including
information on international reserve assets, official gold and
foreign exchange holdings, and the balance of payments, remained
outstanding. The board encouraged the Turkmen authorities to
address the reporting gaps and indicated that it would review
progress within six months.


The IMF has also highlighted the importance of improving the
availability and consistency of economic data used to assess
Turkmenistan's performance. In its June 2026 assessment, the fund's
staff noted that official GDP growth estimates were difficult to
reconcile with other available indicators and therefore used its
own estimates. The IMF estimated economic growth at 3.6% in 2025
and projected growth of 2.4% in 2026.







In an exclusive interview with Trend published in February, Bordon identified
medium-term and program-based budgeting, stronger fiscal reporting
and planning, and improvements in governance and statistical
capacity among the fund's cooperation priorities for the year.


"These efforts aim to help translate hydrocarbon wealth into
more diversified, resilient, and inclusive economic growth over the
medium term," Bordon said.


Additionally, she said the fund's policy advice focused on
strengthening fiscal management, improving public spending
efficiency, modernizing monetary and exchange rate frameworks, and
improving the quality and transparency of economic statistics.


The IMF's recommendations have also covered the financial
sector. Bordon said they included strengthening the Central Bank of
Turkmenistan's role in price and financial stability, reinforcing
regulation and supervision, and reducing reliance on central bank
financing for development purposes.


Trend's analysis
suggests that the latest meeting takes place against a backdrop of
two related challenges: the need to improve the quality and
coverage of economic data used to assess the country's performance,
and the need to strengthen policy frameworks for managing public
finances and financial stability. Further expert consultations
could help address these issues.