A meeting on trade facilitation was held in Ashgabat on 25 February within the framework of the International Trade Centre (ITC) project "Turkmenistan: Trade Resilience and Integration", funded by the European Union. This event became an important stage in the process of implementing measures by Turkmenistan to improve the conditions for cross-border trade in accordance with international standards.

The meeting, which brought together representatives of national ministries and agencies, as well as the private sector, discussed issues related to the development of Turkmenistan’s National Roadmap for Trade Facilitation based on the previously conducted assessment of compliance with the provisions of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA). The participants discussed key strategies for optimizing cross-border trade and further implementing the WTO TFA measures.

One of the key moments of the event was the presentation of the “TFA Conformity Assessment Report”, which is an in-depth analysis of the compliance of national cross-border trade regulation practices with WTO requirements. ITC and UNECE experts outlined the key changes in the regulatory framework needed to facilitate trade operations and support the country’s WTO accession efforts. The discussion focused on legislative reforms, trade facilitation and capacity-building initiatives for national agencies.

In his welcoming speech, Johannes Baur, Head of Cooperation Section for Central Asia at the EU Delegation to Kazakhstan, stressed the importance of cooperation among all stakeholders to ensure not only the adoption of these reforms, but also their effective implementation. He noted that Turkmenistan’s efforts to strengthen its position in global trade by complying with international standards will contribute to greater economic resilience and regional integration.

The main feature of the meeting was an interactive training session, during which participants, including representatives of ministries and agencies, customs authorities, and the private sector, jointly developed mini-roadmaps on priority trade facilitation measures. This interactive session provided practical insights into the reforms needed and strengthened the dialogue between public and private sector stakeholders.

The experts’ meeting reaffirmed Turkmenistan’s commitment to advancing trade facilitation reforms as part of its broader efforts to modernize its economy. By promoting close cooperation between public institutions and the private sector, the country is taking concrete steps to create a more efficient and transparent trading environment. The EU and ITC are committed to supporting these initiatives through ongoing technical assistance and policy advice, ensuring sustainable progress on Turkmenistan’s trade integration path.

About the project

The International Trade Centre is implementing a four-year technical assistance project in Turkmenistan, “Turkmenistan: Trade Resilience and Integration”, funded by the European Union. The aim of the project is to support the economic development of Turkmenistan, as well as to strengthen trade relations between the EU and Turkmenistan. This will be achieved by increasing competitiveness in trade through an improved business climate. The project aims to promote international economic interaction of Turkmenistan and its participation in regional and global trade.

ORIENT