New York – His Majesty the King yesterday met the President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedow, in New York ahead of today’s official opening of the 80th United Nations General Assembly.
The talks were held at the Mandarin Hotel, attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs Senator Pholile Shakantu, Eswatini’s Ambassador to the UN Thamie Dlamini, Prince Gcina and Prince Lindani.
His Majesty congratulated Turkmenistan on its forthcoming Independence Day, to be celebrated on 27 September, while the two leaders also exchanged views on areas of mutual cooperation. The courtesy call followed the King’s working visit to Turkmenistan last month, where the two countries formalised diplomatic ties to promote collaboration in economic diversification, sustainable development and peacebuilding.
Both nations, being landlocked and members of the United Nations and the Non-Aligned Movement, are pursuing solutions to shared challenges such as trade constraints and climate-related issues. They plan to combine Turkmenistan’s experience in natural gas and desert agriculture with Eswatini’s development goals. An agreement establishing cooperation was signed earlier between Turkmenistan’s Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Foreign Affairs Minister Rasit Meredow, and Senator Shakantu.
Talks are now focusing on transforming the current zero-trade status into a partnership that could see exchanges in technology, agriculture, manufacturing, energy, mining and infrastructure. Eswatini has shown interest in working with Turkmenistan in areas such as space and satellite technology, data centres and electronic product manufacturing, with participation in Turkmenistan’s ICT exhibition on the table.
Energy and infrastructure also featured in discussions, with Eswatini proposing regional bitumen sales and exploring trade opportunities in Turkmenistan’s raw material stock exchange. On agriculture, Eswatini expressed interest in importing cotton, while Turkmenistan showed readiness to tap into Eswatini’s growing textile industry and consider trade in wheat and rice.
Mining and oil were also part of the agenda, as Eswatini invited Turkmenistan to explore its mineral potential. Talks further included Eswatini’s interest in securing fuel reserves from Turkmenistan and exporting sugar to the Central Asian state, with Turkmenistan’s ministers expressing openness to the proposals.
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