Hero-Arkadag Reviews the Progress of the New International Airport Construction in Jebel

On March 1, the National Leader of the Turkmen People, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, who is on a working visit to Balkan Velayat, departed by helicopter from the city of Turkmenbashi and arrived in Balkanabat. Hero-Arkadag visited the construction site of the new international airport in the town of Jebel, where he reviewed the progress of large-scale construction works. As history attests, the Great Silk Road once traversed the territory of Turkmenistan, facilitating trade and cultural exchanges between Asia and Europe. Under the leadership of the President of Turkmenistan, the country, strategically located at a crucial crossroads of continental routes, prioritizes the development of transport and transit corridors, marking the revival of ancient trade pathways in a modern context. As part of his working visit to Balkan Velayat, Hero-Arkadag arrived at the construction site of the International Airport in Balkanabat, where dynamic construction activities are ongoing. The new airport, envisioned to play a key role in enhancing the country’s transport and transit potential and boosting cargo and passenger transportation, is being constructed using advanced expertise and innovative technologies. During his visit, Hero-Arkadag examined the characteristics of the airport's runway, assessing the durability and resilience of the construction materials. The runway has been built in accordance with modern requirements and international industry standards. Emphasizing the crucial role of the transport and communications sector in global economic development and trade, Hero-Arkadag noted that the new airport would significantly contribute to Turkmenistan’s integration into the global economic space and its sustainable economic development objectives. It is noteworthy that Turkmenistan’s international initiatives, widely supported by the global community, hold great significance for humanity. This is reflected in several United Nations General Assembly resolutions unanimously adopted in recognition of Turkmenistan’s contributions. During Hero-Arkadag’s visit, an aircraft landed on the newly constructed runway as a test of its functionality. This trial landing served as tangible proof of the high-quality construction of the runway and its compliance with global standards. Under the wise leadership of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, Turkmenistan is actively enhancing its transport and transit corridors, leveraging its advantageous geographical position. These efforts lay the groundwork for the development of a multimodal transport and transit infrastructure that meets international standards and integrates various modes of transport, including air travel. Hero-Arkadag also inquired about the infrastructure and auxiliary facilities of the new airport, emphasizing the importance of equipping the airport in line with modern requirements to ensure the smooth operation of all airport services. Highlighting the steady increase in domestic air traffic in recent years, Hero-Arkadag underscored that the new airport would provide high-quality service to passengers traveling to the Mollagara health resort for rest and medical treatment. The strategic location of the international airport in Jebel will facilitate quick access to the resort, which is visible from the air gateway. Following this, Hero-Arkadag inspected the various facilities within the International Airport of Balkanabat, evaluating their features and operational capabilities. In recent years, under the leadership of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, significant efforts have been made to modernize the country’s civil aviation infrastructure, expand the national fleet with new aircraft, train highly qualified specialists, and construct and renovate airports. These initiatives reflect Turkmenistan’s commitment to reviving the Great Silk Road in a new format. The modernization of civil aviation is a priority in the President’s state policy. In a short time, international airports equipped with modern technology and meeting global standards have been inaugurated in the capital, Turkmenbashi, and Turkmenabat. Despite the relatively recent inauguration of the international airport in the city of Kerki in Lebap Velayat, the construction of another modern airport in Balkan Velayat is now in its final stages. This progress underscores Turkmenistan’s strategic approach to enhancing international passenger and cargo transportation. In April 2015, an intergovernmental agreement on air transport was signed between Turkmenistan and Luxembourg, paving the way for Europe's leading cargo airline, Cargolux, to operate flights along the Luxembourg-Turkmenbashi route. Over this period, the total volume of transit cargo, including figures from the first three months of 2025, reached 417,340 tons, with more than 5,960 transit aircraft landings recorded. Furthermore, international freight transport through Turkmenistan along the Europe-Caucasus-Asia (TRACECA) corridor and the Afghanistan-Turkmenistan-Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey transit route reinforces the country’s growing reputation on the global stage. Turkmenistan has hosted international forums aimed at strengthening transport and transit corridors and addressing relevant industry challenges. Notable among these were the 2014 High-Level International Conference on Sustainable Transport Cooperation, which resulted in the Ashgabat Declaration, and the 2016 Global Conference on Sustainable Transport. These initiatives highlight the importance of transport diplomacy in Turkmenistan’s foreign policy. President Serdar Berdimuhamedov continues to successfully implement Hero-Arkadag’s initiatives, including the construction of international-level airports, which are integral to the national transport system. The United Nations General Assembly, acting on Turkmenistan’s initiative, has adopted historic resolutions such as "The Role of Transport and Transit Corridors in Ensuring International Cooperation for Sustainable Development," "Towards a Comprehensive Transport Connectivity Framework for Sustainable Multimodal Transit Corridors," "World Sustainable Transport Day," and "Strengthening Connectivity Between All Modes of Transport for Achieving Sustainable Development Goals." The construction of the new airport in Jebel will strengthen Turkmenistan’s position as a major regional and continental transport and logistics hub, ensuring the country’s seamless integration into the global transport network. Situated at the crossroads of Central Asia and Europe, Turkmenistan is committed to developing transport and logistics services between regional and continental states. The country continues to enhance its national transport infrastructure and steadily expand its transport and transit capabilities. Under President Serdar Berdimuhamedov’s leadership, large-scale efforts are being undertaken to ensure the reliability of international transport corridors, reinforcing Turkmenistan’s role as a key link in continental routes. Turkmenistan aims to utilize its transport and transit potential in the interest of global cooperation. Accordingly, the country places great importance on expanding collaboration with leading international organizations and institutions while fostering partnerships to address modern challenges effectively. Hero-Arkadag then reviewed the proposed projects and facilities of the new airport. Chairman of the Türkmenhowaýollary Agency, D. Saburov, briefed Hero-Arkadag on the airport construction projects and their specifications. In addition to the existing runway, the new airport will feature access roads, aircraft hangars, passenger terminals, an air traffic control tower, checkpoints, rescue and firefighting facilities, technical buildings, water reservoirs, a lighting and alert system control center, a radio technical station, cargo areas, a terminal, and other specialized facilities. Stressing the need for continuous oversight of construction activities, Hero-Arkadag emphasized that ensuring high-quality standards and timely completion of the airport's infrastructure remain top priorities. He called for a responsible and comprehensive approach to facility equipment and personnel training. Hero-Arkadag extended his best wishes to all involved in the rapid construction of the International Airport of Balkanabat, the enhancement of surrounding areas, and the provision of high-level services. Following the conclusion of his working visit to Balkan Velayat, Hero-Arkadag departed for the capital. Shortly thereafter, Hero-Arkadag’s aircraft landed at the capital’s international airport, where the National Leader of the Turkmen People, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan, Hero-Arkadag, was warmly received. Source: State Information Agency of Turkmenistan

02.04.2025