TAPI Gas Push: Turkmenistan says the Serhetabat–Herat section of the TAPI pipeline is expected to be completed this year, setting up natural gas supplies to Afghanistan in 2027, with the project aimed at diversifying Ashgabat’s gas exports. Energy Expansion: The Lebap Cement Plant is ramping up output after commissioning its second phase, boosting capacity to 2 million tons annually and enabling production of higher-grade S-600 cement. Trade at SCRMET: Turkmenistan recorded 93 transactions at the State Commodity and Raw Materials Exchange, totaling over $9.918 million, with foreign buyers purchasing petroleum coke, cotton yarn and sheet glass. Regional Connectivity Watch: Uzbekistan is studying participation in a railway linking Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan to Türkiye, with access to Samsun and Istanbul ports, and reviewing logistics links involving Turkmenbashi and other regional hubs. Diplomacy: A meeting at Turkmenistan’s MFA discussed EU-Turkmenistan cooperation priorities ahead of the UN General Assembly. Local Development: Ashgabat continues road-safety upgrades, including installing a convex mirror at a blind intersection to improve visibility for drivers and pedestrians.