The fifth meeting of the High-Level Group of the DARYA regional program, focused on training specialists for the transport and logistics sector as part of the development of the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor, is being held in Ashgabat on Oct. 13-14, 2026, the Delegation of the European Union to Turkmenistan reported.
Representatives from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are attending the meeting. Eduards Stiprais, the European Union’s special representative for Central Asia, also took part and delivered welcoming remarks at the opening ceremony. Participants are discussing workforce training, the development of professional skills needed in the transport and logistics sector, and the exchange of experience among countries in the region.
Speaking at the meeting, Turkmen Deputy Foreign Minister Mahri Bashimova highlighted the importance of developing transport connectivity to expand international and regional cooperation. She emphasized that the efficient operation of transport corridors depends not only on modern infrastructure but also on the qualifications of specialists, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan reported.
The meeting also addresses ways to strengthen cooperation among government agencies, educational institutions and the private sector; promote exchanges of experience between Central Asian countries and the European Union; and identify future areas of regional cooperation in specialist training.
The DARYA program, which stands for “Dialogue and Action for Resourceful Youth in Central Asia,” is funded by the European Union and implemented by the European Training Foundation from 2022 to 2027. With a budget of 10 million euros, the program supports vocational education and strengthens cooperation on skills development across the five Central Asian countries.
