Ashgabat, January 16, 2026 – The Europe Today: The United Nations Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) will hold its annual economic forum and the 20th session of its Governing Council from January 20 to 23, 2026, in Ashgabat, as part of SPECA High-Level Week.
According to the U.N. Economic Commission for Europe, the events will provide a key platform to enhance regional cooperation and strengthen partnerships in trade, transport, and energy.
The forum’s main theme, “Regional Connectivity for Sustainable Development,” will guide discussions on the development of energy, transport, and trade links, the digitization of transport corridors, and the harmonization of legislation among SPECA member states.
Held under Turkmenistan’s chairmanship, the forum will also review progress in implementing key SPECA strategic documents, including the Roadmap for the Digitization of the Trans-Caspian Corridor and the Development Concept through 2030.
Established in 1998, SPECA is a U.N. initiative aimed at integrating the economies of Central Asian countries into the global economy and fostering regional cooperation. The program originally included Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, with Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, and Turkmenistan joining later.
