On 23 April 2025, at the invitation of the government of Turkmenistan, Acting Secretary-General, Ms. Atsuko Hirose, delivered a keynote speech at the Opening Plenary of the Turkmenistan Economy Investment Forum (TEIF) 2025 - “International Forum to attract Foreign Investments in Turkmenistan’s Economy.” 

Under the theme of the Opening Plenary, “International Year of Peace and Trust: Turkmenistan’s Role in the Future of Global Energy and Sustainable Growth,” Ms. Hirose discussed the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT)’s purpose to establish a legal framework to promote long-term international energy cooperation and the ECT’s coverage of all matters related to energy.  Ms. Hirose referred to Turkmenistan’s role in advancing energy cooperation by the adoption of the Ashgabat Energy Charter Declaration in 2017 under Turkmenistan’s chairmanship of the Energy Charter Conference, the highest decision-making body under the ECT.  One of the aims of the Ashgabat Declaration was the modernisation of ECT, which was accomplished by the adoption of the amendments to the ECT in December 2024, making the ECT one of the most advanced international investment treaties.   Ms. Hirose further referred to Turkmenistan’s significant efforts towards advancing its sustainable energy transition by joining the Global Methane Pledge, and its contribution to enhanced energy security by its critical role in the Turkmenistan – Afghanistan – Pakistan – India (TAPI) pipeline project.   

Co-speakers at the Opening Plenary included H.E. Batyr Amanov, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan.  Video messages were delivered by the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific (ESCAP), Ms Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana; the Secretary General of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Mr. Haitham Al Ghais; and the Executive Director of the International Energy Agency, Dr. Fatih Birol.