This article describes India's development partnership with Turkmenistan and cooperation in training, technology, traditional medicine, security and other sectors named in the MEA brief. It draws on the MEA brief of June 2026, and describes activities up to that date.
Training under ITEC
India offers capacity building training programmes for officials of the Government of Turkmenistan under the ITEC (Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation) Programme. According to the MEA brief of June 2026, 114 officials of the Government of Turkmenistan have been trained in India under ITEC since 2014. Scholarships for Turkmen students are covered in the culture article.
Technology and training centres
An "India-Turkmenistan Information Technology Centre" was set up at the Magtymguly State University in Ashgabat with the assistance of the Government of India. It was inaugurated in 2011 by the then Minister of State for Communications & Information Technology, Shri Sachin Pilot.
In 2002, an India-Turkmenistan Industrial Training Centre was established at the Institute of Architecture & Construction in Ashgabat. The project was executed by Hindustan Machine Tools (International) Ltd., Bengaluru, and the centre was upgraded with new machinery supplied from India in August 2017.
Traditional medicine and yoga
The "Yoga and Traditional Medicine Centre" in Ashgabat was inaugurated by the Prime Minister in July 2015. According to the brief, a local yoga teacher sponsored by ICCR has been conducting yoga classes at the centre.
During the 5th round of Foreign Office Consultations in January 2026, Secretary (West), MEA took part in the inauguration of an "Ayurveda Chamber" at the Turkmen State Medical University in Ashgabat.
Sectoral agreements
Bilateral MoUs have been signed in a range of sectors during high-level visits. During the Prime Minister's visit in July 2015, MoUs were signed for cooperation in the following fields:
- Chemicals
- Science & Technology
- Tourism
- Yoga & Ayurveda
- Defence
- Sports
During the visit of the then President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, in April 2022, MoUs were signed for cooperation in:
- finance
- disaster management
- culture and arts
- youth affairs
Sectoral ministers have also visited Ashgabat. The annexure to the brief lists visits by Shri Som Pal, Minister of State for Agriculture, in December 1998, Shri Anant Kumar, Minister of Tourism and Culture, in September 2000, and Shri Saifuddin Soz, Minister for Water Resources, in December 2006. Scientific and technological cooperation also falls within the remit of the Inter-Governmental Commission described in the relations article, and sports links include the "UN Friendship Games" resolution, also covered there.
Security and Afghanistan
Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov attended the 6th Ministerial Conference "Heart of Asia - Istanbul Process", held in Amritsar in December 2016. The then Secretary of the State Security Council of Turkmenistan, Mr. Charymyrat Amanov, took part in the "Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan" chaired by the National Security Adviser, Shri Ajit Doval, in New Delhi in November 2021. Turkmenistan also took part in the India-Central Asia Joint Working Group on Afghanistan, held in New Delhi in March 2023.
Youth exchanges
Turkmenistan sent 20-member youth delegations to the 2nd, 3rd and 4th editions of the "Central Asia Youth Delegation Programme" in India, in March 2024, March 2025 and March 2026 respectively. Youth affairs is also one of the fields covered by the MoUs of 2022.
Global South engagement
Turkmenistan has taken part in the Voice of the Global South Summits hosted by India. The then Deputy Chairman of Cabinet Ministers for Health, Science & Technology, and Education, Mr. Nurmuhammet Amannepesov, participated in the 1st Voice of the Global South Summit, held virtually in January 2023.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Ahmed Gurbanov attended the Foreign Ministers' Session of the 3rd Voice of the Global South Summit, chaired by EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar in virtual format on 17 August 2024. Turkmen participation in the energy session of that summit is described in the trade article.