Diesel Crackdown: Turkmenistan cut the diesel allowance for vehicles leaving the country from 300 to 150 liters and raised the over-limit fee to 30 manat per extra liter, aiming to curb fuel smuggling and persistent shortages. Fuel Policy & Travel Costs: The August 10 tightening follows an April rule change, keeping the price gap with neighboring markets as the main driver behind enforcement pressure at borders and customs. Caspian Business & Environment: On Caspian Sea Day, President Berdimuhamedov backed ecosystem protection as a trade and economic priority, citing Turkmenistan-led milestones from the 2002 summit to Avaza forums. Healthcare, Education & Sport Expo: Ashgabat will host an international exhibition and conference in October (B2B/B2G meetings included), positioning Turkmenistan as a regional platform for services and technology partnerships. Transport & Logistics Push: ITTC 2026 in late November will bring 25+ countries to discuss multimodal corridors, Middle Corridor and Caspian routes, and logistics digitalization. Saudi Ties: Turkmenistan met Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to expand trade and economic cooperation. Caspian Port Link Idea: Iran proposed integrating Turkmenbashi port with Iranian Caspian ports to boost multimodal transport. TAPI Momentum: Turkmenistan and Afghanistan signed/advanced gas purchase MoUs under TAPI, with pricing and long-term contract terms on the agenda, alongside broader transport corridor talks. Trade Signals: SCRMET auctions recorded 59 foreign-currency deals totaling over $224,000, while domestic purchases topped 428.9 million manat. Regional Context: A week of coverage also highlighted Central Asia’s growth debate and Kazakhstan’s outsized role in regional exports and external investment.