Gulya Kolakova is an accomplished consultant with extensive experience in international development and business across Central Asia and Afghanistan. Based in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, she specializes in providing high-level consultancy in critical areas such as gender equality, women’s empowerment, entrepreneurship, human rights, community-based tourism, environmental sustainability, and legislative analysis. Her expertise also spans foreign investment, SME development, trade, transport, and regional connectivity.

Ms. Kolakova has successfully collaborated with leading international organizations, including UN agencies, the European Union, and the Asian Development Bank, to advance sustainable development initiatives and drive economic growth in Turkmenistan. Her advisory services are tailored to support both the public and private sectors in navigating complex regulatory landscapes and fostering inclusive development.

In addition to her consultancy work, Ms. Kolakova is a highly sought-after freelance interpreter, providing professional interpretation services to embassies, international organizations, ministries, government agencies, and private enterprises.

Ms. Kolakova holds a Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Languages from Turkmen National University, a Master of Science from Rochester Institute of Technology in the United States, and a Master of Arts in Political Science from the OSCE Academy in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.