According to organizers of the 31st International Conference and Exhibition, Oil and Gas of Turkmenistan – OGT 2026, journalist and economic analyst John Defterios will serve as the lead international moderator of this event. The event will take place in Ashgabat on October 21-23, 2026, under the theme "Energy. Partnership. Progress.", forum organizer Turkmen Energy Forum (TEF) reported.
Defterios has more than 35 years of experience covering energy, the global economy, international trade and geopolitics. He previously served as CNN Business' editor-at-large for emerging markets and has also worked with Reuters Television and PBS Television. He has moderated discussions at major international events, including the World Economic Forum, the OPEC Seminar, ADIPEC and the Atlantic Council Global Energy Forum. He is currently a business professor at New York University Abu Dhabi and a senior strategic adviser at APCO Worldwide.
"It is a great honor to join OGT 2026 as lead international moderator" Defterios said. "Turkmenistan holds an important strategic position in the global energy system, supported by its substantial resource base and expanding cooperation with leading international energy companies."
All exhibition space for OGT 2026 has been sold out, while the number of registered conference delegates has exceeded 150, organizers said, reflecting strong commercial interest in Turkmenistan's energy sector.
The exhibition will feature companies involved in geological exploration, oil and gas production, engineering, oilfield services, industrial equipment, automation, digital technologies and logistics.
The conference agenda includes investment opportunities related to the Galkynysh gas field, Turkmenistan's Caspian offshore sector, modernization of production facilities and gas processing, as well as discussions on digitalization, artificial intelligence and methane emissions reduction. The program will also include Business-to-Government (B2G) and Business-to-Business (B2B) meetings.
