The economy of Turkmenistan continues to recover from the 2014 downturn in hydrocarbon prices, but remains "in the grip of its worst economic crisis since the immediate postindependence period, driven in part by low gas prices, the suspension of gas exports to Russia between 2016 and 2019...and poor harvests." President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow at a session of the Cabinet of Ministers on March 11, 2021, called the rate of GDP growth unsatisfactory. When discussing the 2021 government budget, he noted that 2021 would be "as difficult" a year as 2020 had been. According to the 2020 Investment Climate Statement of the U.S. Department of State,
Turkmenistan’s economy depends heavily on the production and export of natural gas, oil, petrochemicals and, to a lesser degree, cotton, wheat, and textiles. The economy is still recovering from a deep recession that followed the late 2014 collapse in global energy prices. The current investment climate is considered high risk for U.S. foreign direct investment.
Ashgabat, formerly named Poltoratsk between 1919 and 1927, is the capital and the largest city of Turkmenistan. It is situated between the Karakum Desert and the Kopet Dag mountain range in Central Asia. It is also near the Iran-Turkmenistan border.
Turkmenistan, also known as Turkmenia, is a sovereign country in Central Asia, bordered by Kazakhstan to the northwest, Uzbekistan to the north, east and northeast, Afghanistan to the southeast, Iran to the south and southwest and the Caspian Sea to the west. Ashgabat is the capital and largest city of the country. The population of the country is 6 million, the lowest of the Central Asian republics. Turkmenistan is one of the most sparsely populated nations in Asia. Citizens of Turkmenistan are known as Turkmenistanis, Turkmenians or Turkmens.
Ahal Region is one of the regions of Turkmenistan. It is in the south-center of the country, bordering Iran and Afghanistan along the Kopet Dag Range. Its area is 97,160 km2 (37,510 sq mi) and population 939,700.
Türkmenbaşy, formerly known as Krasnovodsk, Kyzyl-Su, and Shagadam is a city in Balkan Province in Turkmenistan, on the Krasnovodsk Gulf of the Caspian Sea. It sits at an elevation of 27 metres. The population was 86,800, mostly ethnic Russians, Armenians and Azeris. As the terminus of the Trans-Caspian Railway and site of a major seaport on the Caspian, it is an important transportation center. The city is also the site of Turkmenistan's largest oil refining complex.
The Halk Maslahaty is the upper chamber of Turkmenistan's Parliament or "National Council". It consists of 56 members, 48 elected from the five provinces plus capital city of Ashgabat, and 8 appointed by the president.
The districts of Turkmenistan are territorial entities below the provinces of Turkmenistan. They may be counties, cities, or boroughs of cities. The heads of the districts are appointed by the President of Turkmenistan.
The mass media in Turkmenistan is one of the most tightly controlled in the world. The press is heavily controlled by the government, which funds nearly all newspapers. Criticism of the president is absolutely forbidden. State licensing policy effectively eliminates all outlets not reflecting official views. To avoid reprisal, domestic and foreign journalists engage in self-censorship.
Gökdepe District is a district of Ahal Region, Turkmenistan.
Yagshygeldi Kakayev was a Turkmen politician and energy executive. He was the Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan from 2012 to 2013 and from 2015 to 2017. In 2010, he served as acting Deputy Chairman. His career in government was primarily focused on oil and gas matters. From 2007 to 2016, he was the Director of the State Agency for Management of Hydrocarbons.
Ruhabat is a town and capital of Ruhabat District in the Ahal Province of Turkmenistan.
Turkmen State Institute of Transport and Communications is the largest institution of higher education in Turkmenistan, located in the capital of Ashgabat. Founded in 1992, prepares professionals and higher vocational education for railway transport and other sectors of the economy. Its rector was Nurnepes Annaevich Kuliev, until the university was abolished.
Archabil Avenue is the most modern high-speed motorway in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. The eight-lane motorway has a length of 25.5 kilometres, and contains a dividing strip of more than 30 metres width.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan is the chief executive body in Turkmenistan. The Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan is appointed by the President of Turkmenistan who is both the chief of state and head of government. In addition to holding specific portfolios in most cases, six deputy chairpersons of the Cabinet of Ministers may also be assigned responsibility for oversight of a province of Turkmenistan or of the capital city.
Baýram Durdyýew is a Turkmen professional football player and manager.
Altymyrat Myratowiç Annadurdyýew is a professional Turkmen football player who played in FC Altyn Asyr. He is also a member of Turkmenistan national football team.
Serdar Gurbangulyýewiç Berdimuhamedow is a Turkmen politician and deputy chairman of government and the only son of the country's president, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow. He has widely been considered to be the apparent successor to his father. Little was known about him until recent times.
Isgender Handurdyevich Mulikov is a Turkmen politician who was Minister of Internal Affairs from 2009 to 2019.
People's Council elections were held in Turkmenistan on 28 March 2021 to elect 48 of the 56 members of the People's Council or Halk Maslahaty.
Nyýazow, previously called Andreyevsk and Täzebazar, and in Russian referred to as "Niyazovsk" or "Nyyazovsk", is a city subordinate to a district and the administrative center of Saparmyrat Nyýazow District, Daşoguz Province, Turkmenistan.
Turkmenistan 