The distinguished Turkmen scientist was honoured for her contribution to scientific research, medical innovation and the application of knowledge for the progress and prosperity of society
A landmark moment for Turkmenistan took place at GLOBAL BUSINESS WEEK 2026 in Davos, where Dr Ayjemal Orazolyeva was presented with the prestigious International Business Diplomacy Award.
According to the organisers of Global Business Week, Dr Orazolyeva became the first woman from Turkmenistan to receive this international distinction, marking an important recognition not only of her individual achievements, but also of the growing contribution of Turkmen women to science, innovation, international cooperation and global leadership.
The International Business Diplomacy Award recognises individuals whose professional work goes beyond the boundaries of a single organisation or discipline and contributes to building bridges between science, business, innovation and society.
Dr Orazolyeva was honoured for her long-standing achievements in scientific research and for advancing the practical application of innovation in ways that support social progress, human wellbeing and sustainable development.
A Lifetime Dedicated to Science
Ayjemal Orazolyeva was born in Ashgabat on 14 August 1957.
After completing secondary school in 1974, she entered the Medical University of Turkmenistan, graduating with honours in 1980.
From 1984 to 1987, she conducted research for her Candidate of Sciences dissertation at the Institute of Morphology of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, successfully defending her thesis and beginning a distinguished academic and scientific career.
From 1987, Dr Orazolyeva worked at the Medical University of Turkmenistan in the Department of Pathological Anatomy, first as an assistant and later as Head of Department.
In 2013, she defended her doctoral dissertation entitled:
“Age-Related Changes in Ocular Tissues and Their Role in the Development of Glaucoma in Turkmenistan.”
Since 2019, she has continued her research at the Research Centre of the State Medical University named after Murad Garryyev, contributing to the advancement of medical science and translational research in Turkmenistan.
Research with Direct Clinical Potential
One of the most significant areas of Dr Orazolyeva’s recent scientific work concerns the regeneration of the cornea following purulent inflammatory disease.
Since 2020, she and her research team have been investigating the effects of autologous platelet- and leukocyte-enriched plasma used in combination with a bandage contact lens on corneal regeneration.
Their comprehensive morphological and immunohistochemical studies indicate that this approach can support faster regeneration of corneal tissue in a histotypic manner — helping restore the original tissue structure while limiting fibrotic changes that may otherwise lead to corneal opacity.
The research has also examined how the method may influence stromal fibroblast proliferation, apoptosis and neovascularisation.
According to the research findings presented by the team, the proposed therapeutic approach is pathogenetically grounded and has demonstrated promising results.
This is precisely the type of work that illustrates why modern scientific leadership is increasingly connected with innovation.
Research becomes particularly valuable when it moves beyond theory and begins to create new possibilities for medical practice, technology and human wellbeing.
Where Science Meets Business Diplomacy
Why should a scientist receive an award called Business Diplomacy? Because modern business diplomacy is no longer limited to traditional negotiations between companies or governments.
Today it increasingly involves the international exchange of: knowledge, technologies, scientific discoveries, intellectual property, investment, expertise and innovation.
Scientists play an increasingly important role in this process. A medical discovery can become a new treatment. A laboratory methodology can become a technology. A research project can attract international cooperation and investment. And an innovation developed in one country can ultimately improve lives in many others.
The ability to connect scientific knowledge with practical application and international collaboration is therefore becoming a new form of diplomacy.
A Symbolic Achievement for Turkmenistan
Dr Orazolyeva’s recognition in Davos carries particular significance because it highlights the international intellectual potential of Turkmenistan.
Her professional journey represents several generations of scientific development: rigorous medical education, fundamental morphological research, university leadership and the translation of scientific findings into practical medical innovation.
Her award also carries an important message for younger women. Scientific excellence, leadership and international recognition are not separate paths. They can become parts of the same journey.
The presentation of the International Business Diplomacy Award to the first female laureate from Turkmenistan therefore represents more than an individual distinction. It is a recognition of the power of women in science to influence economic, technological and social development.
GLOBAL BUSINESS WEEK 2026: RECOGNISING THOSE WHO CHANGE THE WORLD
GLOBAL BUSINESS WEEK brings together entrepreneurs, investors, innovators, scientists, policymakers and international leaders to develop new partnerships and exchange ideas capable of accelerating global progress.
The International Business Diplomacy Award 2026 recognises this contribution and places it within a broader international context — where scientific knowledge becomes a bridge between countries, disciplines and communities.
For Dr Ayjemal Orazolyeva, the award received in Davos represents recognition of that journey. For Turkmenistan, it represents another important step in presenting its scientists and female leaders to the world. And for the international community, it is a reminder that some of the most important forms of diplomacy begin not at the negotiating table, but in the laboratory, university and research centre — wherever knowledge is transformed into progress.