From February 28 to March 2, the regional forum Creative Central Asia 2026 was held in Tashkent, bringing together experts from the countries of Central Asia and the United Kingdom. The main goal of the event was to develop creative industries as a strategic tool for urban growth and the strengthening of human capital.
The forum’s program focused on interdisciplinarity and the implementation of innovations. Participants discussed the role of artificial intelligence, mechanisms for attracting investment, and the creation of new urban infrastructure. Attention was also given to education, the value-based economy, and future skills. The forum included panel discussions, the presentation of the results of the “City Ranking” hackathon, and professional sessions aimed at expanding business connections.
Turkmenistan was represented at the forum by a delegation of young professionals actively involved in developing the country’s technological and creative environment. The delegation included Vasily Andronov, the founder of the children’s science theater Jam Creative. Earlier, he became a prize winner of the twelfth cohort of the StartUp Academy business incubation program, organized in partnership with the International Technology Park of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan.
According to Vasily Andronov, the trip made it possible to study the experience of neighboring countries in detail and confirmed that Turkmenistan today acts as a full-fledged and proactive participant in regional processes.
It should be recalled that last spring, the international forum Creative and Innovative Economy of Turkmenistan Forum was also held in Ashgabat, demonstrating the consistent development of this sector. The forum clearly showed that our country has a large number of creative and talented people ready to propose and implement unique ideas in various fields—from IT and design to art and architecture.
Today, the creative economy is becoming a platform for those who are ready to monetize their intellectual abilities and talents. It is a sector where innovation meets cultural heritage, creating new opportunities for the professional self-realization of young people and for shaping the modern image of cities.
The initiative Creative Central Asia, launched by the British Council in 2017, continues to serve as a key platform for dialogue. It helps build bridges between representatives of the region’s creative industries and international experts, promoting the integration of Turkmen specialists into the global creative community.
