The Turkmen-Italian Business Forum took place on October 25 as part of the official visit of the President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, to Italy. The event, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Italy jointly with the Italian Trade Agency (ICE) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, gathered more than 150 representatives of organizations and businesses from both countries. The delegation of Turkmen business circles included the management of the National Organization of Turkmenistan for Barcodes, GS1 Turkmenistan.

During the business forum, a number of agreements were signed, particularly in the textile and energy sectors, and the field of cybersecurity.

In his opening speech at the forum, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov stated that the main goal of the meeting was to give a powerful impetus to bilateral relations through direct business dialogue and to create real prerequisites for transitioning to a qualitatively new level of partnership. The Head of the Turkmen state highlighted strategic areas for expanded cooperation, including: industrialization, diversification, the creation of modern logistics infrastructure, and hydrocarbon processing.

On the sidelines of the business forum, opportunities for modernizing sectors such as the chemical and textile industries, agro-processing, and the production of building materials were discussed. Joint plans for developing trade and economic partnership were specified during the business meeting.

As President Serdar Berdimuhamedov noted, Turkmenistan is ready to diversify its product supplies to Italy, substantially expanding their range with a focus on finished products. "Naturally, our trade relations must be based on real demands and needs, an objective assessment of mutual potential, serious analysis, and a long-term business forecast," the Head of State said. In this context, the importance of intensifying business exchanges was emphasized, including the participation of Turkmen and Italian business circles and companies in exhibitions and fairs held in both countries, and the organization of targeted trips for entrepreneurs to study opportunities for participating in various projects.

President Serdar Berdimuhamedov viewed the meeting as an important step toward establishing and strengthening long-term trade, economic, and investment ties between Italian business circles and Turkmenistan, and invited representatives of Italian business circles to engage in broad, comprehensive cooperation.

The business forum featured thematic sessions: "Economic Cooperation between Turkmenistan and the Italian Republic," "Prospects for Interaction in Trade, the Textile Sector, and the Private Sector," and "Promoting Bilateral Economic Partnership."

The speakers at the business meeting also noted that Italy is one of Turkmenistan's largest trading partners in the European Union. Bilateral economic cooperation is multifaceted, and the volume of trade is progressively increasing every year. A series of informal meetings between Italian companies and Turkmen partners was organized as part of the event. Delegates of the Turkmen-Italian Business Forum were also introduced to an exhibition of products manufactured in Turkmenistan.

The participation of the leadership of NOTB, GS1 Turkmenistan in the Turkmen-Italian business forum is especially relevant for the organization's efforts to promote Turkmen manufacturers' goods to the European market through the introduction of advanced technologies and international standards.