Private Enterprise Takes Centre Stage at LLDC3 in Awaza

19.07.2025

Haknazar HALJANOW,
CEO of Dovletli Nesibe,
Coordinator to Young Enterpreuners' Center of Ashgabat Committee of Party of Industrialists and Enterpreuners of Turkmenistan

The Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3), to be held in Awaza, Turkmenistan, from 5 to 8 August 2025, presents a once‑in‑a‑decade opportunity to reshape the development trajectory of 32 landlocked developing countries (LLDCs). Central to this effort is the LLDC3 Private Sector Forum, co‑organised by the United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, LLDCs and Small Island Developing States (UN‑OHRLLS) and the Rwanda Private Sector Federation, in close collaboration with the Rwanda Development Board.

The Private Sector Forum at LLDC3

The Private Sector Forum will convene business leaders, investors, UN officials, and government representatives to:

Build transformative partnerships across public and private sectors
Mobilize long‑term investment and finance to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Integrate LLDCs into global value chains through trade, transit, and digital connectivity discussions lldc3.gov.tm

Spanning two days, the Forum features a high‑level opening dialogue, four thematic sessions—Trade & Transit; Growth Opportunities; Digital Development; Financing & Investment—side events, and an exhibition area. It will draw private enterprises from all 32 LLDCs, representing a combined market of over 570 million people lldc3.gov.tm.

Turkmenistan’s Leadership and the Awaza Programme of Action

Turkmenistan, as host country, has leveraged the LLDC3 to spotlight its own national development vision: the Awaza Programme of Action for LLDCs (2024–2034). Adopted by the UN General Assembly on 24 December 2024, this renewed global commitment aligns national plans, regional integration efforts, and international policy frameworks to bolster:

Trade facilitation and structural transformation
Transport connectivity and transit systems
Technology transfer and digital development
Climate resilience and disaster risk reduction
Mobilization of international support lldc3.gov.tm

By hosting LLDC3 in the Awaza National Tourist Zone, Turkmenistan is not only emphasizing its geopolitical role in the Caspian–Central Asia region, but also demonstrating how investment in infrastructure and services can serve as a catalyst for broader economic diversification.

Spotlight on Central Asia

Central Asian LLDCs—Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan—share common challenges of high transport costs, dependence on a narrow range of exports, and vulnerability to external shocks. The Private Sector Forum will enable these countries to:

Deepen regional transit corridors such as the Trans‑Caspian International Transport Route and TRACECA, reducing reliance on single transit partners.
Scale digital solutions for customs and border management, building on pilot initiatives in e‑transit and fintech.
Attract green investment into renewable energy, agritech, and climate‑smart infrastructure—key priorities under the Awaza PoA.
Harmonize regulatory frameworks to facilitate intra‑regional value chains, especially in agro‑processing and light manufacturing.

Through these measures, Central Asia can transform its “landlockedness” into a competitive advantage, becoming a vital hub that links Europe and Asia.

Turkmenistan’s Private Sector Initiatives

In the run‑up to LLDC3, Turkmenistan has launched several private sector–focused initiatives:

Awaza Special Economic Zone expansions, offering tax incentives for logistics, ICT, and manufacturing firms.
Public–private partnerships in port modernization along the Caspian coast, to streamline multimodal transport.
Digital trade platforms piloting blockchain‑based customs clearances.

These efforts reflect the government’s strategy to showcase Turkmenistan as both a beneficiary and a driver of the Awaza Programme of Action.

Looking Ahead

The LLDC3 Private Sector Forum will conclude with a set of actionable recommendations aimed at governments, international financial institutions, and the private sector. These will feed directly into the Awaza Political Declaration and the broader LLDC3 outcome document, ensuring that private-sector voices help shape the global agenda for the next decade.

For Turkmenistan and its Central Asian neighbors, the Forum is more than a conference—it is a platform to ignite transformative partnerships, unlock new streams of finance, and integrate the region more fully into the global economy.

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